Rajasthan Unit 7 Achieves Full 700 MW Power Operation
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Unit 7 reaches full 700 MW power – Rajasthan nuclear plant’s unit 7 achieved rated power operation of 700 MW on 10 Feb 2026 at 05:15 hrs, marking the third of sixteen 700 MW pressurised heavy‑water reactors (PHWRs) under construction in India [1].
Milestone underscores NPCIL’s design robustness – NPCIL said the achievement demonstrates the robustness of its 700 MW PHWR design and the capabilities of Indian industry, reinforcing its role in a clean, reliable, self‑reliant energy future [1].
Unit 7’s commissioning timeline completed – The reactor reached first criticality in Sep 2024, connected to the grid in Mar 2025, and after regulator‑approved power ascension testing attained full capacity on Tuesday, 10 Feb 2026 [1].
RAPP‑8 under construction, light‑water commissioning ongoing – A second 700 MW unit, RAPP‑8, is being built at the Rawatbhata site, which already hosts six operating PHWRs totaling 1,180 MW; light‑water commissioning of unit 8 is in progress [1].
India expands 700 MW PHWR fleet across multiple sites – The government has sanctioned “fleet mode” construction of additional 700 MW units at Kaiga (Karnataka), Gorakhpur (Haryana), Chutka (Madhya Pradesh) and Mahi Banswara (Rajasthan) to meet a target of at least 100 GW nuclear capacity by 2047 [1].
Previous units set precedent for rapid deployment – Earlier units Kakrapar‑3 and Kakrapar‑4 followed similar timelines: unit 3 reached criticality July 2020, grid connection Jan 2021, commercial operation July 2023; unit 4 criticality Dec 2023, grid Feb 2024, commercial March 2024 [1].
- Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) – “Rajasthan Atomic Power Project - Unit-7 (RAPP-7) successfully achieved rated power operation of 700 MW for the first time on 10 February 2026 at 05.15 hrs.” [1]
- NPCIL – “The milestone stands as a testament to engineering excellence, strong teamwork and institutional synergy, reinforcing NPCIL’s role in strengthening India’s clean, reliable and self‑reliant energy future.” [1]
- NPCIL – “Establishes the robustness of the NPCIL’s 700 MW PHWR design and the capabilities of NPCIL and Indian industries.” [1]