Power-starved state gets NPC lifeline

MUMBAI: Nuclear Power Corporation (NPC) has lived up to the expectations of the power-starved Maharashtra. The state can now look forward to a new power supply line, with the NPC synchronising its 540MW, unit-3 of Tarapur Atomic Power Project to the western grid.

The 540 MW, unit-3 of Tarapur Atomic Power Project (TAPP-3) that achieved criticality on May 21, ‘06 was synchronised with the grid on Thursday, the NPCIL announced.

For unit-3, the time taken between criticality and synchronisation is about one-fourth of that taken for its predecessor, unit-4, which was synchronised with the grid on June 4, ‘05.

At present the TAPP-3 is in the process of conducting mandatory tests. For sometime the unit may be required to shutdown. The generation from the unit will subsequently be increased.

Once the station is declared commercial, there will be a consistent supply to the grid. The project will be declared commercial in July ‘06, six months ahead of schedule.

The two units TAPP-3&4, of 540 MW each, are the country’s largest and most advanced nuclear power units. Next on NPCILs agenda is upgradation of the unit size to 700 MW. Four such units of 700 MW each, two at Rawatbhata in Rajasthan and two at Kakrapar in Gujarat are proposed to be built.