Coupling the Karachi nuclear power plant (PHWR; 137 MW(E)) to a thermal seawater desalination plant (MED type). Annex 7. Pakistan

This study summarizes our results on the utilization of an existing CANDU type nuclear reactor operating near the major city of Karachi as the energy source for desalination with an MED process, producing about 1600 m3/day of desalted water. Techno-economic studies have also been carried out and the sensitivity of water costs investigated as functions of discount and interest rates, water plant capacity, total water production availability, water plant base cost and water plant average management salaries. It is shown that: 1) Discount/interest rate plays an important role in the economics of a desalination project. With a 30 % decrease in interest/discount rate, water cost decreases to about 16 %; 2) For small size plants the effect of capacity on the water cost is not appreciable. However, for large size plants (> 100 000 m3/day) an appreciable reduction in water cost with the increase in capacity is expected; 3) Combined water and power plant availability factor is another important parameter which appreciably affects the water cost. With a 30 % increase in availability factor the water cost decreases to about 18 %; 4) Water plant base cost also appreciably affects the water cost. With a 30 % decrease in water plant base cost the water cost decreases to about 18 %; 5) Management salaries have no significant influence on water costs. (author)