Tarapore 540-MW nuclear power plant to go critical in mid-May

Mumbai: The Tarapore power plant, India's second indigenious nuclear power plant, is expected to go critical by mid May with the completion of the fuel bundle loading process having been completed.

The process of loading 5,096 fuel bundles with 13 bundles in 392 channels, a major task before taking a nuclear power plant operation or critical, waas completed this week. The next stage is "air-hold' and helium leak testing of coolent channels.

Finally heavy water will be injected into the 'primary heat transport system' (PHTS) after which the heavy water would be added to the moderator system of the reactor.

Once the plant starts generating power, India's total nuclear energy installed capacity will go up to 3,890 MW from 3,350 MW.