MUMBAI, MARCH 8: The construction of India's 500 MWe pressurised heavy water reactor (PHWR)-based nuclear power project at Tarapur Atomic Power Project (TAPP) started on Wednesday.This is the first of the twin project and third and fourth units of TAPP, which presently has two units of 210 MWe each. According to A Sanatkumar, Executive Director (Projects), the first unit of the Rs. 8949-crore project is expected to be commissioned during October 2005 while the second unit a year later.The project will use indigenous designs and technology. A special high-strength concrete called M-60, developed by the Nuclear Power Corporation, will be used right from the foundation to the containment domes.India has 11 operating nuclear power plants with a total installed capacity of 2060 MWe. The 12th unit, which went critical on December 24 last year in Rajasthan, will also be synchronised to the grid in the next few days. Two more units, one in Kaiga (220 mw) and the other in Rajasthan (220 mw) are nearing completion and will achieve first criticality later this year, according to M Das, Chief Engineer of the NPC's Directorate of Health Safety, Environment and Public Awareness.
