India's third 700 MW nuclear power reactor completes hot conditioning
Nuclear Power Operator NPCIL said that the completion of the hot conditioning of its major heat transport system, which is being completed at Rawatbhata in Rajasthan, marked a crucial milestone for India's third domestically constructed 700 MW nuclear power reactor.
"Unit-7 of Rajasthan Atomic Power Project (RAPP) 7&8, the third reactor in the indigenous 700 MW series, achieved a major milestone of successful completion of Hot Conditioning of the Primary Heat Transport (PHT) system on November 30," the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) said in a statement.
Hot conditioning is a prelude to further commissioning activities such as Initial Fuel Loading (IFL), First Approach to Criticality (FAC) and eventual start of electricity generation.
RAPP-7 is the first unit of the RAPP 7&8 (2X700 MW) project being built in Rawatbhata. Its twin unit, RAPP-8 is also at an advanced stage of construction.
India's first indigenously developed 700 MW Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor (KAPS-3) began commercial operations on June 30 at the Kakrapar Atomic Power Station in Gujarat.