India''s 20th nuclear reactor connected to power grid

Mumabi, Jan 19 (PTI) The fourth unit of 220 MW KaigaGenerating Station (KGS-4 ) located in Uttar Kanada districtof Karnataka was connected to the southern power grid in theearly hours today, after the grant of clearance by AtomicEnergy Regulatory Board (AERB).

KGS-4, which achieved first criticality on November 27last year, was "synchronised with the southern grid at 01:56hours", general manager (corporate communication) R R Kakde ofNuclear Power Corporation of India said here in a release.

With the synchronisation of KGS-4 with the grid, India''snuclear power capacity has gone up to 4780 MW, with 20reactors in operation. The installed capacity of Kaiga stationis now 880 MW, making it the third largest after Tarapur(1400 MW) and Rawatbhata (1180 MW), he said.

The unit, fuelled by indigenous uranium, will supplyelectricity to Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Naduand Puducherry.

NPCIL has also achieved new landmarks of generating over4000 MW and over 95 Million Units of power a day. This is a100 per cent increase over what was being generated same timelast year, Kakde said.