Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited

NUCLEAR POWER CORPORATION OF INDIA LIMITED

This is the most recent and largest of the PSUs. It was set-up in 1987 to implement the nuclear power generation programme on commercial lines by converting the erstwhile Nuclear Power Board into Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL). It is responsible for designing, constructing, commissioning and operating all Nuclear Power Reactors in the country. The seven operating reactors have a total installed capacity of 1435 mW and comprise of : two units of 160 mW each at Tarapur near Bombay; two units of 220 mW each at Rawatbhata near Kota in Rajasthan; two units of 235 mW each at Kalpakkam near Madras, and one unit of 235 mW at Narora in Uttar Pradesh. Excepting Tarapur units, which are of the Boiling Water Reactors (BWR) type, all others are of the PHWR Type. While the Rajasthan Reactors were set-up with the assistance of Canada, all subsequent reactors are of indigenous design and construction.

Several more 235 mW PHWRs are in various stages of construction. The second unit at Narora is nearing completion and is expected to become critical during 1990?91. Construction of two reactors at Kakrapar near Surat in Gujarat is also in an advanced stage and the first of these is also expected to be commissioned during 1991?92. Work is in progress on four more reactors two each at Kaiga in Karnataka and Rawatbhata in Rajasthan, which are expected to be completed during 1995?96.

As regards future power reactors advance action has been initiated on four more 235 mW units and four PHWR units of 500 mW each. Detailed design and engineering of the 500 mW PHWR units are also being done in house by NPCIL. To meet the growing demand for electricity in southern region, it has also been decided to set-up two 1,000 mW VVWR units (of the Pressurised Water Reactor type) in Kudankulam, Tamil Nadu, with Soviet assistance.