Tarapur (Maharashtra), March 6
Braving stiff embargoes, India took a giant leap forward in nuclear power generation when its largest and first 540 Mwe plant went critical at Tarapur, months ahead of schedule, here this afternoon.
The Tarapur Atomic Power Project (TAPP-IV) went critical at 12.45 pm today.
The criticality was achieved smoothly, National Power Corporation of India Ltd Chairman S.K. Jain announced even as he was flanked by National Security Adviser M.K. Narayanan and Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Anik Kakodkar.
The Prime Minister was informed about the historic and momentous achievement of Indian nuclear scientists.
The reactor is a Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR) type, 12 of which are already working satisfactorily. It used natural uranium as fuel and heavy water as moderator and coolant.
The “first of its kind ‘’ Unit IV had achieved criticality in just five years, seven months ahead of schedule. This is the shortest time taken to build any PHWR in India, and conforms to international standards.
Speaking to newspersons after the successful achievement of criticality, Mr Jain emphasised that it was achieved despite stiff trade embargoes from some developed countries.
—UNI
