India’s pioneering Kakrapar Atomic Power Project (KAPP) in Gujarat continues to stand as a landmark achievement in the country’s nuclear energy program having delivered the nation’s first indigenously designed and developed 700 MW pressurized heavy water reactor (PHWR). The successful commercial operation of KAPP-3, followed by the commissioning and licensing of KAPP-4 also continues to strengthen India’s atomic sector. It has validated India’s ability to design, construct and operate large-scale nuclear reactors using predominantly domestic technology and supply chains. The project has also become the reference model for the fleet deployment of additional 700 MW PHWRs across India.

Kakrapar Atomic Power Project’s success is also supporting India’s ambitious target of expanding its nuclear capacity to 100 GW by 2047. The Indian government also allowed for private participation in its atomic energy sector through a legislation passed in late 2025. This legislation has opened doors for companies such as Adani Group which recently unveiled plans for a massive 10 GW nuclear power project in India by 2035.

Kakrapar Atomic Power Project in Gujarat: India’s first indigenously developed nuclear power reactor begins operations

Reported July 2, 2023 – India’s first indigenously developed nuclear power reactor which is developed as part of the Kakrapar Atomic Power Project in Gujarat has started commercial operations. The start of operation of the 700 MW capacity reactor was announced by a senior KAPP official.

“With great pleasure, we inform you that our first indigenous 700 MWe Unit, KAPP-3, become commercial on 30th June 2023 at 1000 Hrs. As we speak, the unit is operating at 90 per cent of its total power”, said the official.

Development of more reactors at the Kakrapar Atomic Power Project in Gujarat

The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL)is building two 700 MW pressurized heavy water reactors (PHWRs) at Kakrapar. NPCIL is the company responsible for the generation of electricity from nuclear power in India.

Noteworthy, Kakrapar Atomic Power Project (KAPP) in Gujarat is already home to two 220 MW power plants. Reportedly, various commissioning activities are underway at KAPP 4, the second pressurized heavy water reactor at the facility. The reactor had achieved 96.92 per cent progress by May end of 2023.

Including the indigenously developed nuclear power reactor KAPP 3 and KAPP 4, NPCIL is building a total of sixteen 700 MW PHWRs across the country. The company has already granted financial and administrative sanctions for the project.

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As a result, the construction of 700 MW nuclear power plants is underway at Rawatbhata in Rajasthan (RAPS 7 and 8). Others are being built at Gorakhpur in Haryana (GHAVP 1 and 2).

10 Indigenously developed PHWRs to be built at four locations across the country

The government of India has also sanctioned the construction of 10 indigenously developed PHWRs in fleet mode at four locations. The locations include Gorakhpur in Haryana, Chutka in Madhya Pradesh, as well as Mahi Banswara in Rajasthan and Kaiga in Karnataka.