Kakrapar Atomic Power Station

Updated on Nov 22, 2024

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Country India Reactor type PHWR Address Moti Cher, Gujarat 394360		Commission date 6 May 1993 Units operational 2 × 220 MW Construction began 1984

Status Out of service for 1 year Operator(s) Nuclear power Corporation of India Ltd Hours Open today · Open 24 hoursSaturdayOpen 24 hoursSundayOpen 24 hoursMondayOpen 24 hoursTuesdayOpen 24 hoursWednesdayOpen 24 hoursThursdayOpen 24 hoursFridayOpen 24 hours

Kakrapar Atomic Power Station is a nuclear power station in India, which lies in the proximity of the city of Vyara in the state of Gujarat. It consists of two 220 MW pressurised water reactor with heavy water as moderator (PHWR). KAPS-1 went critical on 3 September 1992 and began commercial electricity production a few months later on 6 May 1993. KAPS-2 went critical on 8 January 1995 and began commercial production on 1 September 1995. In January 2003, CANDU Owners Group (COG) declared KAPS as the best performing pressurised heavy water reactor.

The construction costs originally were estimated to be ₹ 382.52 crore, the plant was finally finished at a price of ₹ 1,335 crore. Construction of units 3 & 4 started in November 2010.

Incidents

1998 KAPS-1 was switched off because of a leakage in the cooling loop for 66 days.

10 March 2004 the (at the time of) supply for the control rods were irreparably damaged during maintenance work. In response, poisons were added to the system and the reactor was shut off.

On 22 August 2006 it was reported by village inhabitants the area around the power station had been penetrated. A search by the police did not result in any findings.

On 11 March 2016, KAPS-1 automatically shut down due to a leak of heavy coolant water, leaving both reactors non-operational. The leak was plugged ten days later. As of February 2017 both reactors are still shut down, with KAPS-1 awaiting replacement of its coolant channel.

References

Kakrapar Atomic Power Station Wikipedia

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