Kudankulam unit-1 to be commissioned in 2 weeks: AEC

The much-delayed Kudankulam project is set to be commissioned within
the next two weeks as nuclear scientists have entered the final lap of
a series of tests on its safety and efficacy.

"Within this month 100 percent. It will take about two weeks," Ratan
Kumar Sinha, Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission said on the
sidelines of the 100th Indian Science Congress in Kolkata on Thursday
when asked about the commissioning of the first 1,000 MW unit of the
project.

Sinha said all possible care was being taken to see that all the
processes are followed precisely.

"They (engineers at Kudankulam) have done the hot pressurisation based
on certain observations. They want to be very sure that all the
processes are perfect," Sinha said.

India is building two 1,000 MW nuclear power plants at Kudankulam with
Russian collaboration. Talks are on with Russia for building more
reactors at the site which can accommodate six units.

Last month, the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) had granted
permission for the second heat up, under which all systems of the
entire nuclear power plant will be put to test to demonstrate its
operability and safety.

Under the second heat up, various systems of the nuclear reactor are
being put throughperformance tests.

Following these tests, AERB would evaluate the reports of the tests
and then give the go-ahead to first approach to criticality, AERB
Chairman S S Bajaj had said.

After the reactor goes critical, power generation would be stepped up
gradually and after it reaches a certain level, the plant would be
connected to the grid.

Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) is developing two 1,000
MW nuclearpower units at Kudankulam in Tamil Nadu.

RB had granted permission to load fuel in the first unit of the
nuclear power project on 10th August after NPCIL complied with all the
conditions laid by it.

A specially-designed robotic arm then began loading 163 bundles of
enriched uranium fuel on 18th September and the process was completed
on 2nd October.

Commissioning of the first unit of the Indo-Russian project was
originally scheduled for December 2011 but had to be put off due to
protests.

source : http://gpress.in