(File photo)

The third nuclear power station built in conjunction with the Belt and Road Initiative has started supplying electricity to Pakistan's national grid on a trial basis, Thepaper.cn reported. The station is being run by China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC).

The Chashma Nuclear Power Plant Unit-3 (C-3), situated near Mianwali, Pakistan, has been officially connected to Pakistan's national power grid. According to CNNC, the China-powered C-3 and C-4 projects aim to deepen "all-weather" strategic partnership between China and Pakistan.

Chashma Nuclear Power Plant is the first "exported" commercial nuclear power plant independently designed and constructed by China. The other two nuclear power units at Chashma, C-1 and C-2, have been supplying electricity since 2000 and 2011 respectively, with more than 90 percent capacity.

The next unit, C-4, is slated to start operation in early 2017, the report said.

Two other large-capacity nuclear power plants in Pakistan are currently under construction in the port city of Karachi. They are scheduled to be completed in 2020 and 2021, adding an additional 2,100 MWe net electricity to the national grid.