The Unit-1 of Kaiga Generating Station (KGS) has made country proud by registering 941 days of continuous operation on Monday surpassing the earlier world record of 940 days held by Heysham-2 Unit-8 (610 MWe AGR) of UK.
This landmark has demonstrated that the nation’s capability in nuclear power generation technology of PHWR is fully matured, according to a statement by Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd.
It evidences the excellence in design, construction, safety, quality and operation & maintenance practices of NPCIL.
KGS located in the sylvan surroundings of the Western Ghats at Kaiga in Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka is a cluster of four indigenously developed Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors of 220 MW each.
Two more indigenous reactors to be set up at the site, Kaiga 5&6 (2X700 MW) have been accorded administrative approval and financial sanction by the Government.
KGS-1 started commercial operation on November 16, 2000. During the present stint of continuous operation from May 13, 2016, the unit has generated about 5 billion (500 crore) units of electricity.
Indian nuclear power plants have demonstrated continuous operation for more than a year 28 times so far. These three reactors, KGS-1 (941 days still in operation), RAPS-3 (777 days) and RAPS-5 (765 days) have operated continuously for more than two years. The units at Kaiga have operated more than a year on 12 occasions so far.
NPCIL presently operates twenty-two reactors with a capacity of 6780 MW (including RAPS-1 (100 MW) under extended shutdown) and has eight reactors with a capacity of 6200 MW under construction. Work has also been initiated on twelve more reactors (9000 MW) accorded administrative approval and financial sanction by the Government.