India's Nuclear Advancements: Fuel Loading Begins for Third Home-built Reactor

India has commenced fueling its third domestically constructed 700 MWe nuclear reactor at the Rajasthan Atomic Power Project (RAPP) in Rawatbhata. This move follows the successful commissioning of two other reactors in Gujarat and is expected to start commercial operations later this year. RAPP-8 is also nearing completion.

India's nuclear operator announced on Friday that it has initiated the fueling process for its third home-built 700 MWe nuclear reactor, aiming to commence commercial operations later this year.

The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) began loading fuel into Unit-7 of the Rajasthan Atomic Power Project (RAPP) at Rawatbhata on Thursday.

This comes after the successful commissioning of two similar reactors in Kakrapar, Gujarat. The initial fueling process for RAPP Unit-7 commenced post-approval from the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB), following stringent safety and security checks.

The commencement of power generation will follow the Initial Fuel Loading (IFL), marking the First Approach to Criticality and beginning the fission chain reaction. The reactor is expected to start commercial operations within this year, while RAPP-8 is scheduled to come online next year.

RAPP-7 is the third of a planned 16 indigenous Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors (PHWR), noted for their advanced safety features, setting a new benchmark in nuclear safety, according to NPCIL.

(With inputs from agencies.)