Kakrapar nuclear power station

Why in news?

• The third unit of the Kakrapar Atomic Power Project (KAPP-3) in Gujarat achieved its ‘first criticality’ — a term that signifies the initiation of a controlled but sustained nuclear fission reaction, recently.

About KAPP-3:

• KAPP-3 is the country’s first 700 MWe (megawatt electric) unit.
• It is the biggest indigenously developed variant of the Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR).
• PHWR reactors use natural uranium as fuel and heavy water as moderator.
• Till now, the biggest reactor size of indigenous design was the 540 MWe PHWR, two of which have been deployed in Tarapur, Maharashtra.

About nuclear power in India:

• Nuclear power is the fifth-largest source of electricity in India after coal, gas, hydroelectricity and wind power.
• Current installed capacity is 6780 MW.
• Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) is a Public Sector Enterprise is responsible for design, construction, commissioning and operation of nuclear power reactors.
• It works under the administrative control of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), Government of India.
• It is currently operating 22 commercial nuclear power reactors with an installed capacity of 6780 MW.

PRELIMS QUESTION
Kakrapar nuclear power plant is located in:
(a)Uttar Pradesh
(b)Gujarat
(c)Karnataka
(d)Tamil Nadu

Answer to prelims question