India’s Largest Nuclear Reactor Begins Commercial Operation

Text of report by Indian newspaper The Asian Age website on 13 September

The country’s biggest unit of atomic power plant, the 540 MWe plant at Tarapur in Maharashtra, has begun commercial operation.

A statement released by the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) said that Unit-4 of Tarapur atomic power plant had achieved criticality on 6 March this year and had been connected to the grid on 4 June. The commercial operation began on 12 September. The unit has been designed and constructed by the NPCIL, which comes under the department of atomic energy. Tapp-44, at 540 MWe, is India’s largest nuclear reactor comprising the most advanced concepts and state-of-the-art technology.

With the addition, the number of NPCIL operated reactors has gone up to 15 in the country with an aggregate capacity of 3,310 MWe. Seven more reactors are under construction with the capacity of 3,420 MWe.

The statement said that NPCIL plants are listed among top performing units internationally and their safety record has been excellent. Unit-1 of Kakrapar Atomic Power Station has been operating continuously since 16 September last year.