Unit number 7 of Rajasthan Atomic Power Project (RPP) at Rawatbhata in Chittorgarh district of Rajasthan became active on the night of 19 September. That is, controlled nuclear fission reaction has started in RPP-7. This information was given by Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL). Earlier, the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board had approved the reactor to take the first step towards criticality. RPP-7 is the third reactor to go critical in a series of 16 indigenous pressurized heavy water reactors (PHWR) with a capacity of 700 MW. It has been installed by the National Atomic Establishment. The first two PHWRs to go critical before RPP-7 were Units 3 and 4 of Kakrapar Atomic Power Station in Gujarat, which went critical in 2020 and 2023 respectively. RPP-7 is expected to start production this year, followed by RPP-8 next year. Nuclear Power Corporation is currently operating 24 reactors with a total capacity of 8,180 MW. Eight more units with a total capacity of 6,800 MW are under construction.
