India’s second 700-MW nuclear reactor in Kakrapar plant starts full operation

Fourteen other reactors are expected to fully run by 2031-2032.

India's Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) has announced that unit 4 of the Kakrapar Atomic Power Station (KAPS) has achieved full operation at 700 megawatts (MW). This marks the second domestically built nuclear reactor in India to reach its full capacity.

In a statement, NPCIL said the unit’s power level, which started commercial operation on 31 March, was raised following a go signal from the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board. 

“The full power operation of KAPS-4 after the smooth operation of its twin unit KAPS-3 at full power demonstrates the strength of the first of a kind indigenous 700 MW Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR) design,” NPCIL said.

The plant operator said 14 more reactors of the same design are at various stages of implementation and are expected to commence operations by 2031-2032.

NPCIL is currently operating a fleet of 24 reactors with a total capacity of 8,180 MW, and has eight units with a capacity of 6,800 MW under construction. Meanwhile, 10 more reactors with a total capacity of 7,000 MW are in pre-project activities.

Once completed, NPCIL said these will increase India’s installed nuclear power capacity to 22,480 MW by 2031-2032. 

Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh earlier said that India’s Nuclear Power generation capacity will increase by around 70 % in the next five years as it expands its capacity by building new facilities.