AERB clears restart of Tarapur Unit 2 after refurbishment
India’s nuclear regulator has approved the restart of Unit 2 at the Tarapur Atomic Power Station, allowing the reactor to continue operations for another decade following an extensive refurbishment programme carried out by Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited.
The Atomic Energy Regulatory Board granted permission for the restart on May 7, 2026, after reviewing refurbishment activities, safety enhancements and inspection results for the reactor.
TAPS Units 1 and 2, commissioned in 1969, are recognised as Asia’s first commercial nuclear power plant units. Located near Boisar in Maharashtra’s Palghar district, the units are based on the Boiling Water Reactor (BWR) design and have remained part of India’s nuclear generation fleet for more than five decades.
As part of the refurbishment, NPCIL replaced the reactor coolant recirculation piping with forged piping and fittings manufactured using corrosion-resistant stainless steel. The project also included the commissioning of a Containment Filtered Venting System (CFVS) and an Alternate Cooling Water System (ACWS) aimed at strengthening plant safety.
The refurbishment programme further involved detailed inspections and life assessment studies of critical reactor components, including pressure vessel welds. According to the regulator, the findings confirmed that the reactor can continue operating safely under the existing maintenance and surveillance framework.
The AERB Board met on May 6 to examine the refurbishment work, safety upgrades and inspection outcomes before approving the restart a day later.
The regulator stated that it will continue monitoring the safety performance of TAPS Units 1 and 2 under its regulatory oversight mechanism.
Unit 1 of the Tarapur station had earlier undergone a similar refurbishment and received restart approval in December 2025. The unit is currently operating at its rated capacity of 160 MWe.
With clearance now granted for Unit 2, both reactors are expected to continue contributing power to India’s electricity grid in the coming years.
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