Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) [PSU]

Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) is a Public Sector Enterprise under the administrative control of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), Government of India. The Company was registered as a Public Limited Company under the Companies Act, 1956 in September 1987 with the objectives of operating atomic power plants and implementing atomic power projects for generation of electricity in pursuance of the schemes and programmes of the Government of India under the Atomic Energy Act, 1962. NPCIL also has equity participation in BHAVINI, another PSU of Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) which implements Fast Breeder Reactors programme in the country.

NPCIL is responsible for design, construction, commissioning and operation of nuclear power reactors. NPCIL is a MoU signing, profit making and dividend paying company with the highest level of credit rating (AAA rating by CRISIL and CARE). NPCIL is presently operating 22 commercial nuclear power reactors with an installed capacity of 6780 MW. The reactor fleet comprises two Boiling Water Reactors (BWRs), 18 Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) including one 100 MW PHWR at Rajasthan which is owned by DAE, Government of India and two VVER reactors of 1000 MW capacity each. Kakrapar Atomic Power Project (KAPP) Unit – 3 was synchronized to the grid on January 10, 2021 and is expected to be in commercial operation soon. Apart from KAPP Unit-3 of 700 MW capacity, NPCIL has 9 more reactors under construction with a total capacity of 7500 MW.

Pre-project activities at new sites, which were accorded ‘in principle’ approval by the Government of India, have been initiated so as to enable early launch of projects at these sites.

Being a responsible corporate citizen, NPCIL accomplishes CSR activities and implements projects related to Sustainable Development (SD). The company is compliance to Corporate Governance as per guidelines issued by Department of Public Enterprises (DPE).

Vision

“To be globally proficient in nuclear power technology, contributing towards long term energy security of the country.”

Mission

The Mission of the Company is ‘To develop nuclear power technology and to produce nuclear power as a safe, environmentally benign and economically viable source of electrical energy to meet the increasing electricity needs of the country’.

Core Values

We treasure our Values

• Safety – Safety is an overriding priority in our all activities.
• Ethics – Upholding highest ethical standards, with honour, through integrity and mutual trust.
• Excellence – Continual improvement through learning, self-assessment and setting higher benchmarks.
• Care – Care and compassion for people and protection of environment.

Objectives

• To maximise the power generation and profitability from nuclear power stations with the motto ‘safety first and production next’.
• To increase nuclear power generation capacity in the country, consistent with the available resources in a safe, economical and rapid manner, in keeping with the growth of energy demand in the country.
• To continue and strengthen QA activities relating to nuclear power programme within the organization and those associated with it.
• To develop personnel at all levels through an appropriate Human Resource Development (HRD) programme in the organisation with a view to further improve their skills and performance consistent with the high technology.
• To continue and strengthen the environmental protection measures relating to nuclear power generation.
• To continue and strengthen the neighborhood welfare programme/CSR activities for achieving inclusive growth of the surrounding population.
• To share appropriate technological skills and expertise at national and international levels.
• To bring about modernisation and technological innovation in activities.
• To coordinate and endeavor to keep the sustained association with the other units of DAE.

Operating Units and Units under Construction

Operating Units:

• Tarapur Atomic Power Station Units-1&2 (2×160 MW BWRs),
• Tarapur Atomic Power Station Units-3&4 (2×540 MW PHWRs),
• Rajasthan Atomic Power Station Units 1to6 (RAPS-1 100 MW, RAPS-2 200 MW and RAPS-3to6,4×220 MW PHWRs),
• Madras Atomic Power Station Units-1&2 (2×220 MW PHWRs),
• Narora Atomic Power Station Units-1&2 (2×220 MW PHWRs),
• Kakrapar Atomic Power Station Units-1&2 (2×220 MW PHWRs),
• Kaiga Generating Station Unit-1 to 4 (4×220 MW PHWRs) and
• Kudankulam Nuclear Power Station Unit-1&2 (2×1000 MW VVER) 

In addition, NPCIL also has a 10 MW Wind Power Plant at Kudankulam site.

The units under construction are: 

• Kakrapar Atomic Power Project Unit-3&4 (2×700 MW PHWRs)
• Rajasthan Atomic Power Project Units-7&8 (2×700 MW PHWRs)
• Gorakhpur Haryana Anu Vidhyut Pariyojna Units-1&2 (2×700 MW PHWRs)
• Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project Unit-3&4 (2×1000 MW VVER)
• Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project Unit-5&6 (2×1000 MW VVER)

In addition to these, Government of India have accorded administrative approval and financial sanction for ten PHWR units to be set up in fleet mode with unit size of 700 MW each at Kaiga Unit-5&6, (Kaiga, Karnataka) Gorakhpur Haryana Anu Vidhyut Pariyojna Unit-3&4 (Gorakhpur, Haryana), Chutka Madhya Pradesh Atomic Power Project Unit 1&2 (Chutka,Madhya Pradesh) and Mahi Banswara Rajasthan Atomic Power Project Unit-1 to 4 (Mahi Banswara, Rajasthan).

Operating Performance

Generation by all units of NPCIL in the financial year (FY) 2020-21 was 43029 MUs. NPCIL has set several records in the safe operation of nuclear power plants. So far NPCIL has consistently maintained overall availability factor of reactors above 80% for several years.

Safety Performance

NPCIL has more than 52 years of experience in safe operation of nuclear power plants, with motto of ‘Safety first and Production next’. The Environmental Management System (EMS) and Occupational Health and Safety Management System (OHSMS) as per ISO-14001: 2004 and IS-18001: 2007 respectively are maintained at all the stations. By following the principle of ALARA (As Low As Reasonably Achievable) and maintaining the highest standards of safety within the Nuclear Power Plants (NPPs), the occupational exposures of employees of the company at various NPPs are maintained well below the values specified by the regulator, Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB). The environmental releases of radioactive effluents from NPPs are maintained significantly low (average less than 1% of the limits specified by AERB). NPCIL contributed in enhancing safety & reliability of nuclear power plants globally through its active participants in World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO), Candu Owners Group (COG), IAEA and other international organizations. NPCIL units have received several safety awards from various national agencies like AERB, NSCI, Gujarat Safety Council, National Safety Council-Mumbai and DGFASLI.

Biodiversity Conservation

NPCIL has voluntarily taken up Environment Stewardship Programme (ESP), besides fulfilling regulatory and statutory requirements. The programme focuses on the scientific study of bio-diversity, particularly avifauna, within and around Exclusion Zones (EZs) of Indian nuclear power plants for the conservation and improvement of habitat in association with nature conservation institutions. As a part of ESP, the company has published five coffee table books viz. “Our Flying Guests” on the birds found within and around all the Indian nuclear power plants, “7 Edens and 70 Fairies” on the butterflies around the Indian NPPs and “The Realms of Flowers” a book on the flowers of Indian NPPs, “Fliers of Our Courtyards” another book on birds found in and around the Indian NPPS and “100 Lives Around Us” on biodiversity around the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant.

Public Outreach Programme

Recognising the need of reaching out to people around its sites and sharing the information on nuclear power to generate correct perspective about nuclear power, NPCIL scaled up its Public Awareness programmes in a structured manner using a multipronged approach. Through several modes of communication, dissemination of accurate information on nuclear power to different target groups is being done regularly.