Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project Reaches An Important Milestone

Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project Reaches An Important Milestone

The first reactor of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project attained maximum rated generation capacity of 1,000 MWe on the 7th of June in the afternoon. Even as the sun glowed to its peak, the atomic project reached this important technical milestone marking its success.

Located on the coast of Tamil Nadu, the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project had been a source of much debate during earlier stages of development and some activists had even tried to oppose it. But fortunately, the government proceeded with the project and the fruits of success are completely visible now. This wraps up the 3 stage ramping of power levels in the first stage of the project. The project was initiated by the NPCIL which is the state-owned operator of this project. The reactor is now reaching the stage for commercial power generation just 11 months after reaching criticality in July 2013.

This stupendous achievement marks a long way the project has come from the first pour of the concrete in the month of March, 2002. At 1,000 Mwe, the Kundankalam-1 has now become the single largest power generating unit in the country. This is higher than the 800 MW thermal set at the Mundra Project managed by the TATAs in Gujarat. The largest nuclear reactors have a capacity of 540 MWe. Projects based on the range of 700 Mwe indigenously pressurised heavy water reactors are being constructed at the 2 sites.

Exactly at 1:20 pm, the Unit 1 of the Kundankalam Nuclear Power Project began operating its full capacity of 1,000 MWe of power, according to R. S. Sundar who is the site director of this project. NPCIL is also going to run some tests mandated by the Atmic Energy Regulatory Board on the unit.

Kudankalam attained criticality on July 13 last year. The project's first reactor had to undergo series of tests stipulated by the AERB and the Russian technology provider Atomstroyexport CJSC. The project had its share of delays including the adoption of new Light Water Reactor technology for NPCIL, time gap in supply of components, additional safety measures following the Fukushima incident and last but not the least, the anti-Kundankulam protests.

But all is well that ends well and the final achievement of 1000 MWe following the stages of 500 and then 750 MWe is welcome news. At every stage, the engineers and scientists have conducted tests and technical parameters have been verified. Kundankulam Nuclear Power Project is now the 21st nuclear power reactor of our country. Commercial power generation at full capacity is expected by the end of June this year.

Atomic Energy Commission Chairman R.K. Sinha has stated how this achievment has been possible through “engineers, technicians and officers who have done everything in the book to realise this full power generation at Kudankulam-1.” This is a proud moment for every Indian.

Out of 1,000 MWe to be generated from each of the reactors, Tamil Nadu’s share is to reach 462 MWe, Karnataka will be given 221 MWe, Kerala allocated 133 MWe and Puducherry providedc 34 MWe. The unallocated share is currently 150 Mwe. NPCIL will sell power generated at the Nuclear Power Project to State Electricity Boards and the final price for the same is being decided. Preparations are on for a hydro-test next which is the critical test for fueling the reactor at the second unit next week. With careful efforts and skilled research, reaching the next technical milestones for the Kundankulam Nuclear Power Project will be easy.