The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) announced a significant milestone at the Rajasthan Atomic Power Project (RAPP) in Rawatbhata. Initial Fuel Loading (IFL) has begun for Unit-8, an indigenous 700 MWe Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR).
The fuel loading process started on September 19, following clearance from the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB). This permission was granted after extensive safety evaluations, major system integrity audits, and thorough site readiness reviews, ensuring all regulatory prerequisites were met.
Path to Power Generation
With the commencement of IFL, RAPP-8 has entered a crucial commissioning phase. The next major step will be the First Approach to Criticality (FAC), which signifies the initiation of a controlled fission chain reaction. Following this, the unit will begin generating electricity, with commercial operation anticipated within the current financial year.
RAPP-7&8 comprises two indigenous 700 MWe PHWRs. Unit-7 began commercial operation in April 2025, and Unit-8 is now following a similar path. This development underscores the continued advancement of India’s domestic nuclear power program.
Strengthening India's Nuclear Fleet
RAPP-8 is the fourth reactor in a series of 16 indigenous 700 MWe PHWRs being established across India. The first two reactors in this series, KAPS-3 and KAPS-4 at Kakrapar in Gujarat, achieved commercial operation in 2023-24. This consistent deployment strengthens the standardization of the 700 MWe PHWR design, facilitating its continued implementation in fleet mode.
NPCIL, a government enterprise under the Department of Atomic Energy, is responsible for the design, construction, commissioning, operation, and maintenance of nuclear power reactors. The organization currently operates 24 nuclear power reactors with a total capacity of 8.78 GWe, with an additional 17 reactors (approximately 13 GWe) under various stages of implementation.
This milestone at RAPP-8 aligns with NPCIL's commitment to the safe, clean, reliable, and sustained generation of nuclear power-based electricity, contributing to the government's target of 100 GWe nuclear power capacity by 2047.