Surat: Unit  of Kakrapar Atomic Power Station(KAPS) which was non functional for last over two years due to leakage has now achieved criticality and resumed nuclear fission chain reaction in reactor at full capacity. 220 MWe KAPS  unit achieved criticality at 2.22 am on Monday after fulfilling all procedures as per the prescribed norms and procedures. Unit  was non functional since March 2016 due to heavy coolant water leakage incident following which both reactors had stop functioning. Procedure to achieve criticality and resume operation has been completed three and half months ahead of schedule.

The Unit-1 of Kakrapara Atomic Power Station (KAPS), an indigenous 220 MWe Pressurized Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR) underwent an automatic shutdown in March 2016, following an incident of a leak from its coolant system. The safety systems of the reactor had worked as intended, including the backup cooling systems. There had not been any abnormal release of radio activity outside the plant or radiation exposures, as a result of the incident. Unit-2 of KAPS was already under shutdown since July 2015 and was under AERB monitoring.

The Kakrapar Atomic Power Station is located in the Vyara District of Gujarat, about 80 kms from Surat. KAPS Site has two indigenous PHWR based NPP Units of 220 MWe capacity reactors which were commissioned in the nineties. Two more units of 700 MWe electrical capacity are currently under construction.

DeshGujarat