Bengaluru: 941 days and counting, Kaiga powers on

Bengaluru: In a big boost to India’s nuclear energy programme the Kaiga Generating Station (KGS) - 1 of the Kaiga Atomic Power Station (KAPS) on Monday morning broke the world record by achieving 941 days of continuous operation, said the Department of Atomic Energy(DAE).

The Kaiga Unit 1 has been operating uninterrupted since May 13, 2016. KAPS is an indigenously built nuclear power plant situated in the coastal district of Karwar in North Karnataka. KGS -1 had earlier created a world record in October this year for working non stop for 894 days among Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWR).  

“At 0920 hours on December 10, 2018, Unit-1 of KGS achieved a world record feat in continuous operation of nuclear power reactors by clocking 941 days of non-stop run establishing India as the frontrunner in continuous operation among all types of nuclear power reactors. In the course of the record breaking run, Unit-1 of KGS plant operated with a capacity factor of 99.4%,” the DAE stated.  

KGS has four units producing 880 megawatt electricity. The first and second reactors started commercial operation in 2000 followed by the third and fourth reactors in 2007 and 2011. All the units of KGS are operated by the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL), which works under the the DAE.  

India has 22 nuclear power reactors with an installed capacity of 6780 mw. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is also the Minister in-charge of Atomic Energy, has given its approval for construction of 10 units each of 700 MW of PHWR in fleet mode.

There are 21 reactors under different stage of construction, which includes four units at Kudankulam with Russian collaboration and one fast breeder reactor augmenting the total installed capacity to 22,480 MW by 2031-32. The Union Cabinet has accorded in-principle approval for collaboration with international partners towards constructing more nuclear power plants to increase its share of clean energy.