Unit 3 of the Kakrapar NPP (KAPP), India’s first 700MWe pressurised heavy water reactor (PHWR), was connected to the grid on 10 January, according to the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE).
Former Atomic Energy Commission Chairman, Anil Kakoddar, said 15 more such units will follow in fleet mode. KAPP-3 achieved criticality in July 2020.
Kakrapar 1&2 are 220MWe PHWRs. Kakrapar 4, under construction is another 700MWe PHWR.
“This is a true example of an excellent national technology developed in India, and will be followed by the construction of 15 more similar power units in the country,” said Kakodkar.
In April 2007, the Indian government approved construction plans for the first four of eight planned 700MWe PHWR units: Kakrapar 3&4 and units 7&8 of the Rajasthan nuclear power plant, which will be built by Hindustan Construction using national technology.
In mid-2009, a building permit was confirmed for Kakrapar 3&4 and Rajasthan 7&8, and at the end of 2009, funding for these construction projects was approved.
Work on the Kakrapar site was completed by August 2010 and first concrete for units 3&4 was poured in November 2010 and March 2011, following approval by the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB).
AERB approved Rajasthan 7&8 in August 2010, after which construction work began. The first concrete for these blocks was poured in July 2011.
In January 2019, DAE announced that India plans to commission 21 new power units, including 10 of its own PHWR design, with a total generating capacity of 15,700MW by 2031.
