Kakrapar 4 gets go-ahead to increase power
12 February 2024
The Indian regulator has given the go-ahead for the 700 MWe pressurised heavy water reactor (PHWR) to move to the next stage of commissioning and increase power to 50%. The unit reached first criticality in December.
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The Kakrapar site is also home to two operating 202 MWe PWHR, seen here on the right (Image: DAE GODL-India)
"The Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) issued Permission for the Phase-C Commissioning stage of Kakrapar Atomic Power Project Unit-4 (KAPP-4) on February 09, 2024, after a satisfactory Safety Review," the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board said. The permit is valid until 30 June.
Phase-C commissioning will see the power of the reactor gradually increased in three stages as the reactor undergoes testing. The first stage - C-1 - allows the unit to increase power to 50%. Phase C-2 will allow the power to be increased to 90%. The final stage will allow the power to be increased to 100%. Regulatory permission will be required to move from one stage to the next.
KAPP 4 is an Indian-designed and built 700 MWe pressurised heavy water reactor and is the second in a series of sixteen units such units, the first of which - Kakrapar unit 3 - was declared in commercial operation in mid-2023.
Researched and written by World Nuclear News