Excavation works have been started for two Indian-designed 700MW pressurised heavy water reactors (PHWRs)– units 7&8 at Rajasthan Atomic Power Project.
The works began in the afternoon of 19 August, after clearance had been received from the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board the previous day.
Excavation work for two more indigenous PHWRs at the Kakrapar Atomic Power Project 3&4 has already been completed. Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL) says it is waiting for AERB clearance for first concrete at KAPP-3&4 in Gujarat state.
First concrete at RAPP-7&8 is planned for December 2010 and the reactors are slated for commercial operation in June 2016 and December 2016, respectively.
NPCIL put the base cost of RAPP-7&8 at Rs.73 billion ($1.5 billion) in June 2008, and the estimated completion costs at some Rs.123 billion ($2.6 billion).
Currently, NPCIL owns 18 nuclear power reactors with an installed capacity of 4460MW. It is also is constructing three reactors, Kaiga-4 (220MW), Kudankulam 1&2 (2x1000MW) and initial work has begun on the four indigenous PHWRs at Rajasthan and Kakrapar.
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