First Concrete Pour Initiated for ECCS Sump of Units 1 & 2 at Gorakhpur Nuclear Power Plant, India

Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) announced on August 14 that the first concrete pour was initiated on the same day for the Emergency Core Cooling System (ECCS) sump of Nuclear Building-01 (NB-01) of Units 1 & 2 at the Gorakhpur Haryana Anu Vidyut Pariyojana (GHAVP) — the Gorakhpur Nuclear Power Plant, marking a phased milestone in the project's construction.

Units 1 & 2 of the Gorakhpur Nuclear Power Plant are located in Gorakhpur Village, Fatehabad District, Haryana State, India, with two 700 MWe units planned, totaling 1,400 MWe in installed capacity. The pouring operation was carried out after addressing geotechnical and foundation-related challenges, pile foundation qualification, and obtaining necessary regulatory approvals.

According to reports, this first pour utilized approximately 280 tonnes of rebar and 450 cubic meters of specially formulated nuclear-grade concrete. The construction process implemented quality control and construction control measures in accordance with nuclear-grade engineering requirements to meet the safety and precision standards for nuclear facility construction.

The Emergency Core Cooling System is a critical safety-related system in nuclear power plants, primarily designed to provide cooling to the reactor core under specific accident conditions. The initiation of the first concrete pour for the ECCS sump signifies that GHAVP Units 1 & 2 have entered a new phase of civil construction following the completion of preliminary foundation works and regulatory procedures.

The Gorakhpur Nuclear Power Plant is a nuclear power project in northern India, with a planned total installed capacity of 2,800 MWe, comprising four 700 MWe units. The current construction scope covers Units 1 & 2. According to project arrangements, Haryana State will receive half of the electricity generated by the project.