Kakrapar (NPP)

2023: Commissioning

On August 31, 2023, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that the third power unit of the Kakrapar nuclear power plant, which is the country's largest reactor, has earned full capacity.

The Kakrapar complex is located near the city of Surat in the state of Gujarat. The plant includes two power units with a capacity of 220 MW each, equipped with reactors of the PHWR type (heavy-water nuclear reactor). The third power unit provides 700 MW of power.

First fully Indian nuclear power plant put into full operation

India has reached a new historic milestone. The first Indian reactor with a capacity of 700 MW of the Kakrapar nuclear power plant reached full capacity. Congratulations to our scientists and engineers, "Modi said.

The new reactor was commissioned on June 30, 2023, but until the end of August of this year it operated at about 90% of its full capacity. Another reactor of the same type is being created at the Kakrapar site: its construction is almost completed, and the launch is scheduled for 2024. The new reactors will increase energy generation at this nuclear power plant several times.

The Indian Atomic Energy Corporation (NPCIL), which is the operator of nuclear power plants in the country, is working on two more projects to build similar power units in Rajasthan and Haryana. Subsequently, such installations will appear in other states. As of the end of August 2023, India has 23 nuclear reactors with a total capacity of about 7,480 MW and nine more reactors with a total capacity of 7,500 MW are under construction. It is noted that by 2031 NPCIL intends to bring energy generation at nuclear power plants to 21,980 MW. In general, India is increasingly prioritizing the development of its own civilian nuclear industry. Projects in the field of nuclear power are at various stages of development and approval of regulatory bodies.^[1]

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