Kaiga unit sets world record among PHWR for operating uninterrupted for 895 days

The Kaiga Atomic Power Station (KAPS) has set a new world record among pressurised heavy water reactors (PHWRs) with one of its units operating uninterrupted for 895 days as of October 25, 2018.

The Unit-1 of Kaiga Generating Station (KGS-1) in Uttar Kannada district of Karnataka had set a national record for continuous operation of 766 days.

The previous record of 894 days of continuous operation was held by a unit of pickering nuclear generating Station(PNGS) in Canada.

KGS-1 now stands first among PHWRs and second among all nuclear power reactors in the world in terms of continuous operation. The unit has been operational since May 13, 2016. KGS-1 is an indigenous PHWR, powered by domestic fuel. It commenced commercial operations on November 16, 2000.

As per the AEC Chairman, at present, there are nine (9) nuclear power reactors at various stages of construction in India and twelve (12) more nuclear power reactors have been accorded administrative approval.

NPCIL presently operates 22 reactors with a capacity of 6,780 MW.

Operational Nuclear Reactors of India

S.No. Plant Unit Type Capacity (MWe) Date of Commercial Operation
01 Tarapur Atomic Power Station (TAPS), Maharashtra 1 BWR 160 October 28, 1969
02 Tarapur Atomic Power Station (TAPS), Maharashtra 2 BWR 160 October 28, 1969
03 Tarapur Atomic Power Station (TAPS), Maharashtra 3 PHWR 540 August 18, 2006
04 Tarapur Atomic Power Station (TAPS), Maharashtra 4 PHWR 540 September 12, 2005
05 Rajasthan Atomic Power Station (RAPS), Rajasthan 1 PHWR 100 December 16,1973
06 Rajasthan Atomic Power Station (RAPS), Rajasthan 2 PHWR 200 April 1,1981
07 Rajasthan Atomic Power Station (RAPS), Rajasthan 3 PHWR 220 June 1, 2000
08 Rajasthan Atomic Power Station (RAPS), Rajasthan 4 PHWR 220 December 23, 2000
09 Rajasthan Atomic Power Station (RAPS), Rajasthan 5 PHWR 220 February 4, 2010
10 Rajasthan Atomic Power Station (RAPS), Rajasthan 6 PHWR 220 March 31, 2010
11 Madras Atomic Power Station (MAPS), Tamilnadu 1 PHWR 220 January 27,1984
12 Madras Atomic Power Station (MAPS), Tamilnadu 2 PHWR 220 March 21,1986
13 Kaiga Generating Station (KGS), Karnataka 1 PHWR 220 November 16, 2000
14 Kaiga Generating Station (KGS), Karnataka 2 PHWR 220 March 16, 2000
15 Kaiga Generating Station (KGS), Karnataka 3 PHWR 220 May 6, 2007
16 Kaiga Generating Station (KGS), Karnataka 4 PHWR 220 January 20, 2011
17 Kudankulam Nuclear Power Station (KKNPS), Tamilnadu 1 VVER -1000 (PWR) 1000 December 31, 2014
18 Kudankulam Nuclear Power Station (KKNPS), Tamilnadu 2 VVER -1000 (PWR) 1000 March 31, 2017
19 Narora Atomic Power Station (NAPS), Uttarpradesh 1 PHWR 220 January 1,1991
20 Narora Atomic Power Station (NAPS), Uttarpradesh 2 PHWR 220 July 1,1992
21 Kakrapar Atomic Power Station (KAPS), Gujarat 1 PHWR 220 May 6, 1993
22 Kakrapar Atomic Power Station (KAPS), Gujarat 2 PHWR 220 September 1,1995

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