A 12-member team of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will complete operational safety review of the third and fourth units of Rajasthan Atomic Power Stations (RAPS) on Wednesday.
This is the UN nuclear watchdog’s 171st operational safety review across the globe since the programme was launched in 1982 and the first of any nuclear power plant in India. India’s all 20 nuclear plants had undergone peer review earlier by international experts from the World Association of Nuclear Operators. The Rajastan plant, located in Chittorgarh district, consists of eight units, including two units of 700 Megawatts (Mw) each under construction, and is generating a total of 1,140 Mw electricity.
“The IAEA team, headed by Miroslav Nipar, has been carrying out its review since October 29. The team was here at the invitation of the government of India,” J P Gupta, site director of the third and fourth units of RAPS, told Business Standard.
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In operational safety review missions, IAEA coordinates with international teams of experts who conduct reviews of operational safety performance at nuclear power plants.
According to Gupta, the review mission has reviewed good practices launched by RAPS III and IV and it would make suggestions to further improve operational safety. He said the two units of 220 Mw each were in operation since 2000. R K Sinha, chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, had earlier told IAEA that India was committed to implementing the international agency’s action plan on nuclear safety.
He had also assured that Indian nuclear experts would assist IAEA secretariat in its endavour to enhance nuclear
