(GIST OF SCIENCE REPORTER) KAKRAPAR ATOMIC POWER STATION

(AUGUST-2025)

KAKRAPAR ATOMIC POWER STATION

Atomic energy board grants operational licence to two home‑built 700 MWe reactors in Gujarat.

Key highlights:

• The Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) has approved a five-year operational licence for Kakrapar Atomic Power Station Units 3 and 4 in Gujarat.

• Both units are indigenously developed 700 MWe Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs), marking a major achievement for India’s nuclear energy sector.

Details from the AERB Licence Approval

• Units: KAPS-3 and KAPS-4

• Capacity: 700 MWe each

• Location: Kakrapar, Gujarat

• Developer & Operator: Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL)

• Technology: Indigenous PHWR (Generation III+)

Significance:

• First time AERB has issued an operational licence to indigenously designed and built reactors.

• Follows years of extensive safety reviews, regulatory scrutiny, and commissioning checks.

• Ensures operational safety and reliability in compliance with international nuclear standards. 

Geopolitical Importance:

• Reduces reliance on imported fossil fuels.

• Strengthens India’s energy security and indigenous technology base.

About Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs)

• Design: PHWRs use natural uranium as fuel and heavy water (D₂O) as both moderator and coolant.

Advantages:

• Can use unenriched uranium, reducing fuel costs.

• Offers better neutron economy due to heavy water.

• Modular and scalable – suitable for Indian infrastructure.

Indian Innovation:

• India began with small PHWRs (220 MWe), later scaled up to 540 MWe and now to 700 MWe (IPHWR-700).

• The IPHWR-700 design includes enhanced safety features like passive decay heat removal, containment spray systems, and double containment walls.

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Courtesy: Science Reporter