India’s first indigenously developed 700 MWe pressurised heavy water reactor (PHWR) at unit 3 of the Kakrapar Atomic Power Project (KAPP) in south Gujarat, has begun commercial operations. The reactor is currently operating at 90% capacity, marking a major achievement for the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL). Kakrapar is already home to two existing 220 MWe units (1&2) and commissioning activities are currently underway at KAPP 4, also a 700 MWe PHWR.
Construction of 700 MWe PHWRs is also underway at Rawatbhata in Rajasthan (RAPS 7&8) and at Gorakhpur in Haryana (GHAVP 1&2). The government has approved construction of 10 more PHWRs in fleet mode at four locations – Gorakhpur, Chutka in Madhya Pradesh, Mahi Banswara in Rajasthan and Kaiga in Karnataka.
Image: The Kakrapar Atomic Power Project in south Gujarat (courtesy of Business Standard)
