Kaiga creates world record for continuous operations

Karwar: The Kaiga Atomic Power Station (KAPS) has created a new world record among pressurised heavy water reactors (PHWRs) with Unit-1 of Kaiga Generating Station (KGS-1) operating uninterrupted for more than 895 days as on Thursday. 

A unit of Pickering Nuclear Generating Station (PNGS) of Canada held the record previously with uninterrupted operations of over 894 days.

This comes as a major achievement for the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL). 

KGS-1 stands among the first in the PHWRs and second among all nuclear power reactors of all technologies, according to an official statement by NPCIL. This unit has been in operation since 13 May 2016. The KGS-1, a PHWR of 220 MW had started commercial production from 16 November 2000.

According to NPCIL, India’s nuclear power plants have demonstrated continuous operations, for long periods exceeding a year, 28 times so far.

Three reactors – KGS-1 (895 days), Rajasthan Atomic Power Station (RAPS) Unit 3 and Unit 5, have recorded 777 days and 765 days, respectively. 

“The long operation bears testimony to the maturity achieved by NPCIL in nuclear power technology,” the statement said.