Kaiga Atomic Power Proj Unit-3 begins operations

Mumbai, May 8: The Unit-3 of Kaiga Atomic Power Project has commenced its commercial operations from May 6.

The 220 MWe unit achieved its first criticality on February 26 this year, in less than 5 years from the first pour of concrete on March 30, 2002. It was synchronised with the grid on April 11. It has already generated more than 30 million units of electricity, a release said here today.

The period between synchronisation and commercial declaration taken by Unit-3, is one of the shortest among Indian nuclear power plants and comparable to international benchmarks. Two reactors (Kaiga 1&2) of 220 MWe each are already in operation since 2000.

The electricity from Kaiga 1 to 3, with a total installed capacity of 660 MWe, is supplied to the southern grid with Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Pondicherry, being the beneficiary states.

It is 17th commercial nuclear power reactor in India and the total installed nuclear power capacity in the country has now increased from 3,900 MWe to 4,120 MWe.

Kaiga site, situated in Uttar Kannada district of Karnataka, comprises four reactors each of 220 MWe belonging to Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR) family. These reactors use natural uranium as fuel and heavy water both as moderator and coolant. The site is unique among all the nuclear plant sites in India for having an annual rainfall of about 4,000 mm, which needed special arrangement and planning for uninterrupted construction activities.

The fourth Unit is also at an advanced stage of construction, with systems getting ready for fuel loading and commencement of operation during this financial year.

Four more units of Nuclear Power Corporation India Ltd (NPCIL) are under construction in Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu, and are expected to be connected to the grid progressively within next two years.

NPCIL is unique in having a comprehensive capacity in the various facets of nuclear technology -- site selection, design, construction, commissioning, operation, maintenance and life extension of nuclear power plants.

UNI