Madras
Reactor Data
Reactor Units
Every power reactor at this site as listed in the IAEA Power Reactor Information System (PRIS): reactor type and model, net electrical capacity, grid connection and commercial operation dates, and current status.
3 units: 1 operational, 1 suspended operation, 1 under construction.
Net capacity in service: 410 MWe.
| Unit | Type | Model | Net MWe | Construction | Grid | Commercial Op | Shutdown | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madras 1 | PHWR | Horizontal Pressure Tube type | 205 | 1971-01-01 | 1983-07-23 | 1984-01-27 | Suspended Operation | |
| Madras 2 | PHWR | Horizontal Pressure Tube type | 205 | 1972-10-01 | 1985-09-20 | 1986-03-21 | Operational | |
| PFBR | FBR | Prototype | 470 | 2004-10-23 | Under Construction |
Capacity, milestones and suppliers
| Unit | Design MWe | Gross MWe | Thermal MWt | First Criticality | Reactor Supplier | Turbine Supplier | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madras 1 | 202 | 220 | 801 | 1983-07-02 | NUCLEAR POWER CORPORATION OF INDIA, LTD. Vikram Sarabhai Bhavan, Anushakti Nagar, Mumbai - 400 094. | Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) www.bhel.com | Suspended 2018-01-30 |
| Madras 2 | 202 | 220 | 801 | 1985-08-12 | NUCLEAR POWER CORPORATION OF INDIA, LTD. Vikram Sarabhai Bhavan, Anushakti Nagar, Mumbai - 400 094. | Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) www.bhel.com | |
| PFBR | 470 | 500 | 1,253 | 2026-04-06 | First criticality 2026-04-06 per Government of India; grid connection not yet reported |
Lifetime performance, through 2025
| Unit | Electricity Supplied | Load Factor | Energy Availability | Operating Factor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madras 1 | 31.5 TWh | 54.2% | 57.7% | 69.3% |
| Madras 2 | 42.3 TWh | 62.4% | 64.5% | 76.4% |
Operator: NUCLEAR POWER CORPORATION OF INDIA, LTD.; Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Limited
Owner: NUCLEAR POWER CORPORATION OF INDIA, LTD.; Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Limited
Source: IAEA Power Reactor Information System (PRIS), as of 2026-10-19.
Working Here
Per Diem Rates FY 2026
Per diem covers lodging and meals & incidental expenses (M&IE) for government and contractor travel near this facility. Rates are from the U.S. State Department foreign per diem tables for FY 2026.
$196
Lodging/Night
$92
M&IE/Day
$288
Total/Day
India: rate for locations the State Department does not list separately
U.S. Department of State foreign per diem, for U.S. government and contractor travel.
Photos
Photos of this facility from the NukeWorker photo gallery. Click the header or any photo to browse the full album.
Facility Map
Interactive satellite map showing the facility's geographic location. Marker color indicates current status: green for online, red for offline, orange for reduced power. Click the header to open in Google Maps satellite view.
12.5583, 80.175
Location & Contact
Physical address, phone number, and website for this facility. Use the directions link to get driving directions via Google Maps.
Plant Facts
About This Site
Written by NukeWorker from public records: facts that do not change. Operator, status and capacity come from the live data elsewhere on this page. Sources: Wikipedia: Madras Atomic Power Station.
Madras Atomic Power Station is a nuclear power plant at Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu, on the Bay of Bengal coast about 80 km south of Chennai.
Read more
Construction of the first two units, 220 MW pressurized heavy water reactors designed in India, began in the early 1970s. Unit 1 was connected to the grid on 23 July 1983 and Unit 2 on 20 September 1985. A 500 MW prototype fast breeder reactor, designed by the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research and built by the company BHAVINI, was begun on the same site in 2004.