Surat: The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) has announced a significant operational milestone with the successful completion of refuelling of 1,000 fuel channels at Unit-4 of the Kakrapar Atomic Power Station (KAPS-4), a 700 MWe reactor, on February 15, 2026.

KAPS-4 is the second indigenously developed 700 MWe Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR) and reflects the technological maturity of India’s advanced nuclear power programme.

Refuelling operations in a PHWR are among the most complex and technology-intensive activities in nuclear power generation. The process involves a highly sophisticated Fuel Handling System (FHS), which includes precision-engineered, automated equipment, advanced instrumentation, and multiple first-of-a-kind (FOAK) systems functioning in close coordination.

According to NPCIL, the completion of 1,000 fuel channel refuelling within approximately 18 months of operation demonstrates robust commissioning, system stabilisation, and the operational excellence of the technical team.

Further underscoring this achievement, KAPS-3 — India’s first indigenous 700 MWe reactor — successfully completed refuelling of 2,000 fuel channels earlier this year. Together, these milestones highlight the reliability, efficiency, and scalability of India’s indigenous 700 MWe reactor design.

The accomplishment is seen as a major step in strengthening India’s nuclear power capacity and advancing self-reliance in the strategic energy sector. DeshGujarat