Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) has permitted extension to Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) to draw infirm power from the grid for its upcoming Rajasthan Atomic Power Project (Unit 8, or RAPP-8).
In a very recent order, CERC has allowed NPCIL to draw start-up power from the grid under the Deviation Settlement Mechanism (DSM) for commissioning of RAPP-8 till June 30, 2026, or till the synchronization of RAPP-8, whichever is earlier. The original permission will expire on June 30, 2025.
NPCIL’s RAPP-8 (of 700 MW) is located at Rawatbhata in Chittorgarh district of Rajasthan and is coming up with indigenous pressurized heavy water reactor (PHWR) technology. RAPP-8 began using start-up from the grid on March 17, 2024 and was permitted to do so till June 30, 2025.
However, RAPP-8 could not be synchronized to grid for several reasons including the adverse impact of COVID-19 during the period 2020 to 2022.
Besides, being a a 700-MW PHWR, there is a stringent requirement of quality assurance on the design, selection, qualification, O&M of critical equipment like reactor components, steam generators, pressurizers, etc. Therefore, the manufacturing of these critical equipments and their pre-service inspection have added to the delay in the supply of these equipments. Further, there are limited qualified vendors in India for the manufacturing of nuclear-grade reactor equipment and components, the order from CERC noted.
As for power evacuation from RAPP-8, infrastructure has already been commissioned. The 400kV switchyard has been charged, and all 400kV transmission lines are in service. Start-up transformer (220/6.6 kV) was charged in the month of March 2024 and is in service, and station auxiliary electrical system buses have also been commissioned. The generator transformer units are commissioned, and the drawal of the startup power supply from this route is planned.
NPCIL, in its petition, submitted that due to reasons beyond its control, it could not synchronize RAPP-8. The company has further submitted that after completion of commissioning of secondary cycle system and reactor low power physics experiments, the first synchronization of RAPP-8 generator is expected by June 2026, and all attempts are being made to advance the synchronization date.
Also read: NPCIL-NTPC joint venture “ASHVINI” gets formal approval
Featured photograph is for representation only