Gujarat : PM Modi to dedicate  domestic power plants at Kakrapar Nuclear Station to the nation on Feb 22

Surat : Prime Minister Narendra Modi will officially dedicate open two domestically constructed power plants, each capable of generating 700 megawatts (MW), to the nation at the Kakrapar Nuclear Power Station in Mandvi taluka, Surat district, on February 22. This inauguration signifies a major achievement in India’s pursuit of self-sufficiency in the nuclear energy sector.

Adding units 3 and 4 at Kakrapar Nuclear Power Station would increase its overall capacity to 1840 MW, reinforcing India’s status as a prominent nuclear energy producer. These two units, which use the Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR) system, demonstrate India’s expertise in nuclear technology.

Unit-3 of the Kakrapar Atomic Power Project (KAPP-3 700 MWe) started operating on August 30, 2023, and its counterpart, KAPP-4, is close to being linked to the grid for power production. These reactors, created by Indian scientists and engineers with increased safety safeguards, represent a significant advancement in achieving India’s goal of self-reliance.

NPCIL now runs 23 reactors with a total capacity of 7480 MW. Additionally, there are 15 reactors using 700 MW PHWR technology being developed and 4 1000 MW light water reactors (LWR) under development at Kudankulam in partnership with Russia, scheduled for completion by 2031-32.

Nuclear power is a sustainable and eco-friendly energy source that provides continuous electricity production around the clock. Nuclear reactors have played a major role in decreasing carbon emissions by generating almost 870 billion units of clean energy, which is equal to offsetting around 748 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions in the nation.

When KAPP-3 and 4 are up and running, they are expected to produce about 10.4 billion units of renewable power per year, based on a Plant Load Factor (PLF) of 85%. Additionally, the station is anticipated to provide job prospects and stimulate economic advancement in the area, thus driving the power industry towards new levels of progress.

India’s opening of these power plants highlights its dedication to use local knowledge to address its energy requirements in a sustainable manner, while also supporting worldwide efforts to reach a net-zero emissions future by 2070.