Commercial power production started from Kakrapar Atomic Power Project (KAPP), Gujarat, India

Commercial power production started from Kakrapar Atomic Power Project (KAPP), Gujarat, India

• The KAPP, Unit 3 has been constructed and shall be operated by Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) a Government of India Enterprise, Department of Atomic Energy.

• KAPP 3 is India’s first indigenously designed Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) of 700 MWe unit size. 

• PHWR uses heavy water (deuterium oxide D₂O) as its coolant and neutron moderator.

• The Unit-3 of Kakrapar Atomic Power Project, achieved its first criticality on 22nd July, 2020 at 09:36 h. Criticality means controlled self-sustaining nuclear fission chain reaction for the first time.  

 

• Kakrapar is located in Vyara of Surat district of Gujarat, which is approximately 290km southern side from capital Gandhinagar. Nearest airport is Surat Airport (STV) which is 64.4 km away.

• KNPP already have two 220MWe operational nuclear power plants, which achieved criticality on 6th May, 1993 and 1st Sept,1995. 

• The 700MWe Unit 3 of KAPP, has been indigenously designed by Indian scientists and engineers.

• The components & equipment for the reactor have been manufactured by Indian industries and the construction and erection was undertaken by various Indian contractors.

• The fuel loading of the reactor core was completed by mid March 2020. Thereafter, many tests and procedures were carried out. 
  

• Unit-3 of Kakrapar Atomic Power Project has been successfully synchronized with Grid for the first time on 10th Jan, 2021 for testing. 

• On 30th June 2023 at 10:00 Hrs, Unit-3 (700MWe) of Kakrapar Atomic Power Project (KAPP) became commercial.

  
  

"With great pleasure, this is to inform that our first indigenous 700 MWe Unit, KAPP-3, has become commercial on 30th June 2023 at 1000 Hrs," a senior KAPP official said.

• The reactors are designed and constructed to the highest safety and quality standards comparable to the best in the world. The indigenous 700 MW PHWRs have advanced safety features like steel lined inner containment, Passive Decay Heat Removal system, Containment Spray system, Hydrogen management Systems etc.

• In Unit-4, civil works are completed, installation of major equipment/ components is completed and balance erection, testing and commissioning works are in progress.
  

• NPCIL has seven more reactors, KAPP 4, Gujarat (700 MW), RAPP 7&8, Rajasthan (2X700 MW), KKNPP 3&4, Tamil Nadu (2X1000 MW) and GHAVP, Haryana 1&2 (2X700 MW) under construction.

• It is a proud moment for all Indians. 
  

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