Kaiga power station-1 creates a world record yet again

Records longest uninterrupted operation of 941 days; PM terms it a ‘major feat’

December 10, 2018 10:21 pm | Updated 10:21 pm IST - HUBBALLI

Karnataka’s Kaiga has once again made the country proud by creating a world record for the longest uninterrupted operation for 941 days, thereby breaking the earlier record of 940 days by the United Kingdom.

In appreciation of the achievement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted on Monday congratulating the Indian scientists and engineers, terming it a major feat.

Heysham-2 Unit-8 of the U.K. had held the earlier record of the longest uninterrupted operation (940 days) among all nuclear power reactors (of all technologies) in the world. Kaiga Generating Station (KGS-1) equalled the world record on Sunday and broke it on Monday, thus creating history. While KGS-1 is a Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR), Heysham-2 Unit-8 is an Advanced Gas Cooled Reactor (AGR).

In an official release issued on Monday from Mumbai, Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL), has said that the achievement demonstrates that the nation’s capability in nuclear power generation technology of PHWR had fully matured and proved the excellence in design, construction, safety, quality and operation and maintenance practices of NPCIL.

On October 25 this year, KGS-1 had broken the earlier world record for longest uninterrupted operation among PWRS held by Pickering-7 (Ontario) in Canada which operated for 894 days and few hours. Pickering-7’s record created on October 7, 1994 was broken by KGS-1 after 24 years.

KGS-1 at Kaiga, located 56 km from Karwar has been generating electricity continuously since May 13, 2016. It isan indigenously-built PHWR run by domestic fuel (uranium). It began commercial operations on November 16, 2000, and has produced 500 cr. units of power so far. In June, KGS-1 had set a national record for continuous operation of 766 days.

According to official sources, KGS-1 will be shutdown for maintenance on December 30. Nuclear power reactors undergo mandatory checks and have to get clearance from the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board to continue operations.

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