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India's Fourth 700 MW Nuclear Reactor Nears Operation as Fuel Loading Begins
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Moneycontrol•21-09-2026, 11:46
India's Fourth 700 MW Nuclear Reactor Nears Operation as Fuel Loading Begins
- •Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) has started loading fuel into Unit 8 of the Rajasthan Atomic Power Project (RAPP-8) at Rawatbhata, initiating the commissioning phase for the 700 MWe indigenous reactor.
- •NPCIL anticipates RAPP-8 will commence commercial operations within the current financial year, with the process from fuel loading to commercial operation typically spanning six to eight months.
- •Fuel loading began on September 19 after receiving permission from the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board, following safety evaluations and system integrity audits.
- •RAPP-8 is the fourth in a series of 16 indigenous 700 MWe pressurised heavy water reactors (PHWRs), with previous units at Kakrapar and RAPP-7 already operational.
- •NPCIL is also developing eight other reactors, including two 700 MWe PHWR units at Gorakhpur and Kaiga, and four Russian-designed pressurised water reactors at Kudankulam.
Key Questions Answered
Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd started loading fuel into Unit 8 of the Rajasthan Atomic Power Project at Rawatbhata, shifting the 700 MWe indigenous reactor into its commissioning phase.
Once all six units are operational, the Kudankulam nuclear power project site will reach a total installed capacity of 6,000 MWe.
Around 6,600 megawatt of nuclear capacity is currently under construction across India, with additional capacity under planning and approval stages.
