First criticality achieved at 700 MW ‘Indigenous’ Reactor at Kakrapar
The 700 MW nuclear power reactor at Kakrapar achieved its initial criticality marking the start of controlled fission reactions this Sunday.
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This development paves the way for the transition towards generating electricity for commercial purposes.
The Chairman and Managing Director of the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL), B C Pathak, was in attendance when this feat was observed at 1:17 am.
Kakrapar Atomic Power Project (KAPP) Unit-4 is the second installment in a series of 16 indigenous Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWR) each boasting a capacity of 700 MW, being established across the country.
Addressing officials at the site, Pathak emphasized the significance of achieving criticality for KAPP-4 within six months of the commercial operation of Unit-3.
The attainment of criticality adhered to all stipulations set by the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB), which granted clearance following a thorough review of the safety of the plant systems, according to a statement from NPCIL.