IANS | 18 Dec, 2023
India's atomic power plant operator, the Nuclear Power Corporation of
India Ltd (NPCIL) said its second 700 MW unit at Kakrapar Atomic Power
Project (KAPP) in Gujarat attained criticality – start of controlled
fission chain reaction- at 1.17 a.m. on Sunday.
This will be the fourth atomic power unit for the NPCIL at Kakrapar.
The NPCIL has three operational nuclear power plants at Kakrapar – two 220 MW units and one 700 MW unit.
The
first 700 MW unit began commercial operations on August 30, 2023 and
the two units at Kakrapar are part of the NPCIL's indigenously designed
and built 16 pressurised heavy water reactors (PHWR) being set up in the
country.
"The criticality was achieved after meeting all the
stipulations of the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB), which had
issued learance after a rigorous review of safety of the plant systems,"
the operator said.
According to NPCIL Chairman and Managing
Director B.C.Pathak, the achievement of criticality of KAPP-4, within
six months of commercial operation of Unit-3 was a significant
achievement.
Together with the smooth operation of KAPP-3, it
demonstrated the strength of NPCIL in all facets of nuclear power viz.
design, construction, commissioning and operation.
After the
first criticality, several experiments/ tests will be conducted in
KAPP-4 and the power level raised in steps, in line with the clearances
of the AERB, ultimately culminating in operation of the unit at full
power.
In October, the NPCIL began the fuel loading process for
the second 700 MW unit. These indigenous PHWRs have advanced safety
features and are among the safest reactors in the world. While these
reactors have been designed, constructed, commissioned and operated by
NPCIL, the supply of equipment and execution of contracts have been by
Indian industries/companies, and thus the true reflection of the spirit
of AtmaNirbhar Bharat, the NPCIL said.
Two more 700 MW PHWRs are
coming up at the Rajasthan Atomic Power Station (RAPS) in addition to
the existing four units of 220 MW, one 200 MW, and one 100 MW units.
The
NPCIL presently operates 23 reactors with a total capacity of 7,480 MW
and has nine units (including KAPP-4) with a capacity of 7,500 MW under
construction. In addition, 10 more reactors with a total capacity of
7,000 MW are in pre-project activities. These are expected to be
completed progressively by 2031-32, the NPCIL said.
