India's 18th nuclear power unit begins commercial operations

India's 18th nuclear power unit has commenced commercial operation at Rawatbhata in Rajasthan, the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) has announced.

The Unit-5 (220 MW) of the Rajasthan Atomic Power Project (RAPP) began commercial operation with effect from 0000 hours of February 4, an NPCIL press release said. The unit was earlier synchronised to the grid for the first time on December 22, 2009.

With the commissioning of this unit - the 18th in the country - the total installed nuclear installed capacity in India has risen to 4340 MW. The nuclear installed capacity at Rawatbhata is now 960 MW, the release said.

The release said the generation of RAPS-5 would be shared by the States in the Northern Electricty Region. The unit is fuelled with imported uranium.

NPCIL said that Unit-6 (220 MW) at Rawatbhata has also achieved first criticality on January 23 and is currently going through statutory tests in preparation for the first synchronisation and commencement of commercial operation.

NNN