Industrial Automation Magazine India

Third Unit at Kakrapar Atomic Power Plant achieves criticality

Published on : Thursday 23-07-2020

The third unit of Kakrapar Atomic Power Plant (KAPP) is now ready to produce atomic power.

New Delhi, July 22, 2020 – The third unit of Kakrapar Atomic Power Plant (KAPP) in Gujarat is ready to generate electricity, with the 700 MWe reactor achieving ‘criticality’, which in other words means it is ready for ongoing nuclear reaction or fission that generates energy. Prime Minister Narendra Modi commended the scientists on this landmark achievement: “Congratulations to our nuclear scientists for achieving criticality of Kakrapar Atomic Power Plant-3! This indigenously designed 700 MWe KAPP-3 reactor is a shining example of Make in India. And a trailblazer for many such future achievements!"

Kakrapar is part of India’s pressurised heavy water reactor (PHWR) portfolio. Of India’s 22 commercial nuclear power reactors with an installed capacity of 6,780 megawatts (MW), which are run by state-owned Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL), there are 14 units of 220MW PHWRs each, making it one of the largest fleets of such reactors. Given India plans to add 175 GW of renewable energy from renewable sources such as wind and sun, the nuclear projects should help provide the baseload to balance the power grid.

Kakrapar Atomic Power Plant is located near Surat in the state of Gujarat. It consists of two 220 MW pressurised water reactor with heavy water as moderator (PHWR). KAPP-1 went critical on 3 September 1992 and began commercial electricity production a few months later on 6 May 1993. KAPP-2 went critical on 8 January 1995 and began commercial production on 1 September 1995. It is part of India’s pressurised heavy water reactor portfolio of 14 units of 220MW each.