With the commissioning of this unit, number of nuclear power reactors in commercial operation has increased to 18 with a total installed capacity 4340 MW
- By April Murelio -
According to the Nuclear Power Corporation (NPCIL), Unit - 5 of Rajasthan Atomic Power Project (RAPP-5&6) has commenced commercial operation with effect. The unit was earlier synchronized to the grid, for the first time, on December 22, 2009.
With the commissioning of this unit, number of nuclear power reactors in commercial operation has increased to 18 with a total installed capacity 4340 MW.
The operation of RAPS-5 in Rajasthan increases the nuclear installed capacity at Rawatbhata Site to 960 MW. The generation of RAPS-5 will be shared by the States in Northern Electricity Region. The unit is fuelled with imported uranium.
Unit - 6 (220 MW) has also achieved first criticality on January 23, 2010 and is currently going through statuary tests in preparation for the first synchronization and commencement of commercial operation.
The Indian-built 220 MW unit of the Rajasthan Atomic Power Station (RAPS) is using fuel imported from Russia which was acquired after India got a waiver from the Nuclear Suppliers Group guidelines in September 2008.
Of the 2,000 tonnes of fuel procured from Russia, about 120 tonnes has been earmarked for RAPS-5. The operationalization of RAPS-5 increases the installed nuclear power capacity at the NPCIL's Rawatbhata site to 960 MW.
The project, which was set up in September 2002, took six years to finish. The project remained idle for some months because of lack of fuel.