Atomic power station in Gujarat goes critical

MUMBAI: Despite the covid-19 crises, India’s nuclear programme crossed an important milestone at 9.36 am on Wednesday when the third unit of the 700 kw Kakrapar Atomic Power Project (

KAPP-3

) located at Gujarat attained its first criticality.


In layman’s parlance it means it achieved controlled self-sustaining

nuclear fission

which marks a first step towards it becoming operational.

In the coming days various tests will be conducted and power will be increased progressively before it is connected to the western grid.

The unit is the 23rd nuclear power

reactor

of the country and is the front runner in a series of 16 indigenous 700 MW nuclear power reactors.
According to the Nuclear Power Corporation (

NPC

), it is designed by Indian scientists and engineers. The components and equipment for the reactor have been manufactured by Indian industries.

The fuel loading of the reactor core was completed by mid-March 2020. "Thereafter, many tests and procedures were carried out during the lockdown period following all

COVID

19 guidelines," NPC stated.

The reactor has several advanced safety features.