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Oldest Nuclear Reactors Get Lifelong Heart Surgery
28 Apr
Summary
- India's 57-year-old Tarapur nuclear reactors have been refurbished.
- The complex refurbishment was likened to 'open heart surgery' on reactors.
- Refurbished reactors now produce 160 megawatts of clean energy each.
The Tarapur Atomic Power Station in India now houses the world's oldest commercially operating nuclear reactors, Units 1 and 2, which were commissioned in 1969. These reactors have undergone a significant refurbishment, described as 'open heart surgery' by officials, to extend their operational life. Unit 1 has resumed power generation, and Unit 2 is expected to restart soon.
Each refurbished unit is now capable of producing 160 megawatts of electricity. The extensive work involved replacing pipelines and assessing critical components under radiation-controlled conditions, all largely executed in-house by NPCIL engineers over four years. This approach kept costs down to approximately Rs 400 crore for both reactors.
Safety upgrades, including a post-Fukushima filtered venting system, have been incorporated. Despite retaining an analogue control room, the facility is maintained to high standards and staffed by young engineers. This revival aligns with India's broader nuclear ambitions and strategy for energy security, balancing cost, safety, and carbon neutrality.
