India Restarts Tarapur Nuclear Unit With Indigenous Technology, Extends Reactor Life

With the restart of Unit-1 at the Tarapur Atomic Power Station (TAPS) in the Palghar district of Maharashtra, India has achieved a significant milestone in its nuclear energy program. After undergoing substantial renovations, the unit has restarted producing 160 MW, making India the first nation in Asia to use entirely domestic technology to prolong the life of a nuclear power reactor. 

According to officials, Unit-2, which has the same capacity, should be operational again in the upcoming months. The first nuclear reactors in Asia outside of the former Soviet Union were TAPS-1 and TAPS-2, which were put into service in 1969. Both units were closed in 2020 for renovation, modernization, and aging management after operating for more than 50 years. 

The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) reports that the overhaul, which was conducted under stringent regulatory supervision, involved replacing reactor recirculation piping with corrosion-resistant materials, renovating turbine-generator systems, upgrading electrical systems, and utilizing advanced 3D laser scanning. 

The reactors will be able to continue operating for a further 15 to 20 years thanks to the life extension. The two units have prevented an estimated 86 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions during their lifetime, producing over 100,000 million units of clean power. TAPS, which was created with Homi Jehangir Bhabha’s goal in mind, set the groundwork for the development of nuclear power in India. 

Source – The Daily Jagran