By IANS,
Mumbai: The Rajasthan Atomic Power Project-Unit 6 was synchronized to the Northern Grid early Sunday after authorization from the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board, an official said.
The unit power level of the RAPS-6 — designed and built by the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) — will be gradually increased to full power after completion of certain tests to confirm safety and reliability, the official said.
RAPS-6 is a 220-MW pressurised heavy water reactor located at Rawatbhata in Chittorgarh district of Rajasthan, where five similar reactors are already in operation.
It is the third reactor in the country to receive imported natural uranium fuel after the Nuclear Suppliers Group exempted India from its guidelines.
The power from the new unit – which had attained criticality in January 2010 and became the 19th reactor to be commissioned in the country – will be shared by the northern electricity region, the official said.
The commercial operation of the RAPS-6, which will commence soon, will raise the installed capacity of nuclear power in the country to 4,560 MW.
Besides, four more nuclear reactors are currently in advanced stages of construction and completion, which will raise the country’s nuclear power capacity to almost double – 7,280 MW.
Work on four 700 MW PHWRs, including two at the Rawatbhata site, has commenced and is slated for completion by 2017.
The NPCIL has given in-principle approval for green field sites at Kumharia (Haryana), Bargi (Madhya Pradesh), Chhayamithi Virdi (Gujarat), Kovvada (Andhra Pradesh) and Haripur (West Bengal) and the ground breaking ceremonies at these sites is planned for 2012.