March 14, 2016: The shutdown of Unit-1 of Kakrapar Atomic Power Station

March 14, 2016: The shutdown of Unit-1 of Kakrapar Atomic Power Station

General Studies: Daily Capsule

Curtain Raiser –News Update (March 14, 2016)

The shutdown of Unit-1 of Kakrapar Atomic Power Station:

The Kakrapar atomic power plant consists of two units of pressurized heavy water reactors (PHWR) of 220 MW each. These units are more than 20 years old (Date of commercial operation: Unit-1— May 6, 1993 and Unit-2— September 1, 1995). Unit-1 of Kakrapur Atomic Power Station (KAPS) had to shutdown on March 11, 2016 following some leakage of heavy water that is used for cooling reactor core. This incidence coincides with the fifth anniversary of Japan’s Fukushima nuclear disaster.

India’s installed nuclear power capacity stands at 5,780 MW currently. It is to be raised to 10,080 MW by 2017 and 20,000 MW by 2020. Independent assessment of the situation by Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) and all necessary steps to avert such incidence in the future is essential to meet the planned target.

Some Facts about PHWR:

· Indian Pressurized Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR) are similar to CANDU Reactor (CANada Deuterium Uranium).

· The use of heavy water moderator is the key to the PHWR system.

· It enables the use of natural uranium as fuel

· Hence reactor can be operated without expensive uranium enrichment facilities

 Source: Transparency at any cost, March 14, 2016, The Hindu & other sources