10 Jun (NucNet): Unit 1 of the Kudankulam nuclear power station in India’s southern Tamil Nadu state has attained full operating power for the first time and could now enter commercial operation next month, the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) said.
NPCIL said the Russian-supplied VVER-1000 pressurised water reactor, which has a design net output of 917 megawatts, reached the milestone at 13.20 local time on 7 June 2014. The company said that tests will be conducted and the results sent to the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board for review and final clearance for continued operation at 100 percent.
Two VVER-1000 PWRs are being built at Kudankulam as part of an agreement between India and Russia signed in 1988.
The unit achieved first criticality in July 2014 and was connected to the grid in October. Since then, output has been increased in stages, with regulatory approval required for each increase in power.
Commissioning has been delayed because of protests and legal action following the March 2011 accident at Japan’s Fukushima-Daiichi plant.
According to the International Atomic Energy Agency there are 21 commercially operational nuclear units in India with six under construction, although the IAEA lists Kudankulam-1 as already being operational.
According to NPCIL’s website, Kudankulam-1 had been scheduled to begin commercial operation in May 2014 and Kudankulam-2 in December 2014.
With the addition of Kudankulam-1 to the grid, India’s total nuclear power generation capacity will increase to 5,780 MW gross (5,308 MW net), NPCIL said.
