Rawatbhata, Rajasthan: The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) has begun initial fuel loading at the 700 megawatt (MW) Unit 8 of the Rajasthan Atomic Power Project (RAPP‑8) here, signalling the unit's formal entry into the commissioning phase ahead of planned commercial operation later in the current financial year.
Regulatory clearance and on‑site oversight
The fuel campaign was initiated following permission from the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) and completion of the statutory prerequisites, NPCIL said in an official statement. Senior NPCIL officials, including S D Paraswar (director, Operations), N K Mitharwal (director, Projects) and D S Rao (site director, Rawatbhata Rajasthan site), were present at the site during the commencement.
"The Initial Fuel Loading commenced at 15:18 hours on September 19, 2026 in the presence of S D Paraswar, director (Operations), N K Mitharwal, director (Projects), D S Rao, site director, Rawatbhata Rajasthan site, along with the station directors," NPCIL said.
What this step means
Initial fuel loading is a formal, safety‑governed operation that places fuel bundles into the reactor core and precedes criticality tests. After fuel placement, the next milestone is the First Approach to Criticality, when the reactor will be brought to a controlled state capable of sustaining a fission chain reaction for the first time. Subsequent tests and synchronisation will lead to trial power generation and, eventually, commercial operation.
Project context and expansion
RAPP‑8 is one of a series of indigenous 700 MWe Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) being deployed across India. NPCIL reported that this reactor is the fourth in the 700 MWe series at the company’s sites and is part of a larger effort to add multiple PHWR units nationwide to bolster baseload capacity.
On the same date as the fuel loading, NPCIL said geotechnical investigations for Units 9 and 10 at the Rawatbhata site also began. These surveys — including borehole drilling, geophysical work and laboratory testing — will establish the technical baseline for future civil and foundation engineering at the plant.
Key next steps
- First Approach to Criticality (start of controlled fission tests).
- Progressive plant testing, including systems checks and safety validations.
- Trial power generation and grid synchronisation, followed by commercial operation.
Technical snapshot
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Unit | RAPP‑8 |
| Capacity | 700 MW (700 MWe PHWR) |
| Phase | Initial fuel loading / commissioning |
| Regulatory clearance | Permission granted by AERB |
| Site | Rawatbhata, Rajasthan |
Regional and national significance
The RAPP complex in Rawatbhata has long been a focal point of Rajasthan’s energy map. Addition of RAPP‑8 will augment the state’s and the region’s firm power availability, contributing to the national goal of increasing indigenous nuclear capacity. NPCIL said RAPP‑7 earlier entered commercial service in April 2025, and other 700 MWe series reactors have been commissioned at Kakrapar in Gujarat.
Local authorities and NPCIL will continue to coordinate closely with the AERB as the station advances through criticality and power trials. The geotechnical work for Units 9 and 10, started on the same day, indicates the site’s role in the next phase of reactor construction planning.
NPCIL’s structured sequence — regulatory checks, fuel loading, criticality testing and staged power generation — is aimed at ensuring that safety and system integrity remain paramount as RAPP‑8 progresses toward commercial operation.
For residents around the Rawatbhata complex, the coming months will focus on official updates from NPCIL and the AERB regarding test results, timelines for grid connection and any operational advisories. Given the regulatory oversight and the stepwise commissioning process, authorities expect transparent documentation of each milestone as it occurs.
