India commissions 18th nuclear reactor with RAPS-5

Mumbai: The fifth nuclear reactor of the Rajasthan Atomic Power Station (RAPS-5) at Rawatbhatta, with a capacity of 220 MWe, attained criticality on Tuesday making it the 18th nuclear power reactor to be commissioned in the country. With the latest commissioning, total nuclear power-generation capacity in the country now stands at 4,340 MWe, up from the existing 4,120 MWe.

According to N Nagaich, chief engineer, Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL), "After conducting some tests, RAPS-5 will be synchronised to the state electricity grid in a month, and therefore it will be ready for commercial operations. It will supply power to the northern electricity region."

"It is a milestone, with the completion of the project (RAP 5 & 6), which comprises two pressurised heavy water reactors (PHWRs) of 220-MW each. We are hopeful that Unit 6 will achieve its criticality next month," said PP Jhamb, site director.

With Unit 5 becoming operational by December-end or beginning of January and Unit 6 set to achieve criticality in the same duration, 440 MW power will be added to the atomic power generating capacity.

The project, set up in September 2002, took six years to complete. It remained idle for some months because of a lack of fuel.

Of the 2,000 tonnes of fuel procured from Russia, about 120 tonnes has been earmarked for Raps-5.