India has marked a significant achievement in nuclear energy production as the first indigenously developed 700 MWe nuclear power reactor at the Kakrapar Atomic Power Project (KAPP) in Gujarat fully begins operations. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has celebrated this milestone on social media platform X. The Kakrapar Atomic Power Project (KAPP) began commercial operations on June 30, initially running at 90% of its full capacity.
Kakrapar Atomic Power Project (KAPP)
- The project has been built by the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL), a public sector undertaking.
- Alongside the operational 700 MW reactor, NPCIL is constructing another at Kakrapar. This site also houses two 220 MW power plants.
- Progress on the second 700 MW reactor (KAPP 4) was close to completion (97.56%) as of July.
- NPCIL aims to construct sixteen 700 MW PHWRs across India, with necessary financial and administrative approvals already in place.
- Currently, 700 MW nuclear power plants are under construction in Rawatbhata, Rajasthan, and Gorakhpur, Haryana.
- The government has authorised the construction of 10 more PHWRs at four different locations.
- India currently operates 23 nuclear reactors across eight power plants, providing a total capacity of 7,480 MW. An additional 12 reactors are under construction and will boost the total grid connection to 9,400 MW upon completion.
Nuclear Power In India
- India boasts a predominantly indigenous nuclear power programme, showcasing its self-reliance in harnessing nuclear energy.
- The Indian government is fully dedicated to expanding its nuclear power capacity as a crucial component of its extensive infrastructure development programme.
- The government has set ambitious targets to grow nuclear capacity.
- India’s exclusion from nuclear trade, a consequence of its weapons program and absence from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, hindered its progress in civil nuclear energy for 34 years. However, this obstacle was overcome in 2009, allowing India to advance in this field.
- As a result of past trade bans and the limited availability of domestic uranium, India has taken a distinctive approach by developing a nuclear fuel cycle specifically designed to harness its vast reserves of thorium.
- Since 2010, there has been a fundamental mismatch between India’s civil liability law and international conventions, which restricts the provision of foreign technology.
- As part of the Indo-US cooperation, the initial nuclear power reactors established in India were two BWRs at Tarapur, constructed by GE as turnkey projects.
- Following the withdrawal of Canadian support in 1974, BARC assumed the responsibility for the development and testing of various components essential for the establishment of PHWRs. This included nuclear-grade pumps, fueling machines, fuel cladding, and more. BARC also provided significant R&D support for the design and safety aspects of PHWRs, covering everything from normal operations to conditions requiring design extension.
- After the accidents at Three Mile Island in the USA in 1979 (TMI) and Chornobyl in 1986, a significant shift occurred in the design philosophy of new nuclear reactors. Gen-III and III+ reactors incorporated passive safety systems as an integral component.
Advanced Heavy Water Reactor (AHWR)
The concept of the Advanced Heavy Water Reactor (AHWR), developed by BARC, emerged from this philosophy. While retaining the pressure tube concept of PHWRs, the AHWR incorporated various passive systems in its design. This innovative approach ensures the reactor’s safety, allowing it to be deployed near densely populated areas.
In addition to this, the Advanced Heavy Water Reactor (AHWR) aims to achieve significant power generation (over 60%) from thorium, serving as a demonstration reactor for thorium-based power. As part of the third stage of the nuclear power program, which strives for large-scale thorium power production, AHWR will provide invaluable experience in handling, manufacturing, and reprocessing thoria-based fuels. This will ensure a smooth transition to widespread thorium power production in the future.
Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement
In 2008, India entered into an International Civil Nuclear Cooperation agreement with the US, which opened doors for the establishment of nuclear reactors through international collaboration. This treaty not only ensured a steady supply of fuel for Indian nuclear power plants but also paved the way for accelerated capacity building by developing Pressurized Water Reactors (PWRs) indigenously. The Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) has made significant advancements in forging technology for pressure vessels and reactivity drives, amongst others, to kickstart the indigenous PWR programme.