en.Wedoany.com Reported - The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) announced a significant milestone in the construction of Kaiga Nuclear Power Plant Units 5 and 6, with the successful on-site unloading of the first End Shield.
NPCIL stated that this is the first major reactor core-related equipment to arrive on site and undergo critical lifting operations, marking a transition from civil construction to the preparatory phase for core equipment installation.
The End Shield, manufactured by L&T Heavy Engineering at its Hazira plant, weighs approximately 107 tons, with a diameter of about 9.3 meters and a thickness of nearly 1 meter. Due to the large size and heavy weight of the equipment, the unloading process required high standards of lifting organization and on-site coordination. NPCIL indicated that the operation was successfully completed using a 500-ton crane, a 70-ton crane, and a 10-ton chain hoist, supported by meticulous planning and multi-party collaboration.
The End Shield is a critical component of the pressurized heavy water reactor core structure. It primarily provides structural support for coolant channel assemblies, facilitates on-power refueling, and serves as an integral part of the calandria vessel spatial containment structure. Its successful arrival not only reflects progress in equipment manufacturing and transportation but also creates conditions for the subsequent installation of core-related components.
Kaiga Units 5 and 6 utilize India's domestically designed 700 MWe pressurized heavy water reactor technology. NPCIL plans to advance 10 units of the same type under a "fleet mode" construction approach to enhance construction efficiency and reduce project execution risks. Excavation work for the two units began in May 2022, and the first concrete pouring ceremony was held earlier this year, marking the official entry of the project into the nuclear power unit construction phase. Under current targets, the first new unit at the Kaiga Nuclear Power Plant is expected to achieve criticality within five years.
Progress on L&T Heavy Engineering's supply for the project continues, with four out of eight steam generators already manufactured and dispatched for Kaiga Units 5 and 6. The sequential delivery of large equipment such as the End Shield and steam generators demonstrates that India's domestic nuclear equipment manufacturing capabilities are supporting its new round of nuclear power expansion plans.
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