New Delhi, July 22: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday congratulated the nuclear scientists for their achievement on criticality of Kakrapar Atomic Power Plant-3. Taking to Twitter, the Prime Minister said the the Atomic Power Plant is a shining example of Make in India and a trailblazer  for many such future achievements. "Congratulations to our nuclear scientists for achieving criticality of Kakrapar Atomic Power Plant-3! This indigenously designed 700 MWe KAPP-3 reactor is a shining example of Make in India. And a trailblazer for many such future achievements!", the Prime Minister tweeted.

Developed and operated by Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL), the Kakrapar Atomic Power Station is a nuclear power station in Gujarat. The  Atomic Power Plant-3 is a 700 MW pressurised water reactor, the construction of which started on November 22, 2010. Earlier, there the Atomic Power station consisted of two 220 MW pressurised water reactor with heavy water as moderator (PHWR). KAPS-1 went critical on September 3,  1992 and began commercial electricity production a few months later on May 6,1993.  PM Narendra Modi to Deliver Address at India Ideas Summit at 9 PM Today, Will Share Views on ‘Building Better Future’.

Here's the tweet by PM Narendra Modi:

KAPS-2 went critical on 8 January 1995 and began commercial production on 1 September 1995. In January 2003, CANDU Owners Group (COG) declared KAPS as the best performing pressurised heavy water reactor. KAPS-2 was shut down after a coolant channel leak in July 2015 and a similar issue forced the shutdown of KAPS-1 in March 2016. After a replacement of coolant channels and feeder tubes, KAPS-2 attained criticality in September 2018.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 22, 2020 10:40 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).