Nuclear Power Operator NPCIL said that the completion of the hot conditioning of its major heat transport system, which is being completed at Rawatbhata in Rajasthan, marked a crucial milestone for India's third domestically constructed 700 MW nuclear power reactor.
"Unit-7 of Rajasthan Atomic Power Project (RAPP) 7&8, the third reactor in the indigenous 700 MW series, achieved a major milestone of successful completion of Hot Conditioning of the Primary Heat Transport (PHT) system on November 30," the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) said in a statement.
Hot conditioning is a prelude to further commissioning activities such as Initial Fuel Loading (IFL), First Approach to Criticality (FAC) and eventual start of electricity generation.
RAPP-7 is the first unit of the RAPP 7&8 (2X700 MW) project being built in Rawatbhata. Its twin unit, RAPP-8 is also at an advanced stage of construction.
India's first indigenously developed 700 MW Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor (KAPS-3) began commercial operations on June 30 at the Kakrapar Atomic Power Station in Gujarat.