Kaiga nuclear plant receives first major reactor core component from L&T

Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) has achieved a construction milestone at the Kaiga Units 5 and 6 nuclear power project with the successful unloading of the first End Shield, a key component of the reactor core.

Manufactured by Larsen & Toubro (L&T) at its Hazira facility, the End Shield weighs 107 tonnes and measures approximately 9.3 metres in height and width, with a thickness of 0.920 metres.

Critical reactor component

The End Shield is the first major equipment to be installed as part of the reactor core system for the 700 MW Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR) units being developed at Kaiga.

According to NPCIL, the component provides structural support to coolant channel assemblies, enables on-power refuelling and forms an integral part of the Calandria Vault enclosure.

Unloading operation

The unloading operation was carried out using a 500-ton crane, a 70-ton crane and a 10-ton chain pulley block.

NPCIL stated that the activity was completed through detailed planning and coordination among project teams and contractors.

Project progress

The milestone follows the First Pour of Concrete (FPC) for Kaiga Units 5 and 6 on March 1, 2026, which marked the formal start of construction activities for the reactors.

MEIL Group is executing the project for NPCIL.

Indigenous nuclear technology

Kaiga Units 5 and 6 are 700 MW PHWRs being developed under the Make in India initiative using indigenous reactor technology.

The project forms part of India’s ongoing nuclear power expansion programme aimed at increasing low-carbon electricity generation through domestically developed reactor designs.

Photo credit: NPCIL