TAPP-3 synchronised with western Grid, to be commercial next month

Mumbai, June 15 (UNI) The 540 MW third unit of the Tarapur Atomic Power Project (TAPP) is likely to be declared commercial in July next, six months ahead of schedule as scientists of Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) accomplished its synchronisation with the western grid early this morning.

The Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) has authorised synchronisation of the unit raising its power level, a spokesman of the NPCIL here confirmed.

Presently TAPP-3 is conducting mandatory tests and it will supply electricity to the grid termed as ''infirm power''.During this period, the power of the unit will need to be varied, and the unit may even be required to be shutdown. The power of the unit will subsequently be increased to full power based on test results and authorisation by the AERB, the spokesman said.

Once the station is declared commercial, it will produce and supply power in a consistent manner to the western grid. The Unit-3 had achieved its criticality on May 21 last and the time taken between criticality and synchronisation is about one-fourth of that taken for its predecessor, Unit-4, which was synchronised with the grid on June 4, 2005. The 540 MW TAPP-4 , predecessor of TAPP-3 ,has already started commercial production from September 12 last.

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