The second unit of India’s Kudankulam nuclear power plant (KNPP) has been successfully connected to the Souhern Power Grid of the country on August 29 at 11.17 am local standard time. Currently the unit is transmitting100 MWe, which will be gradually increased in phases after conducting mandatory tests stipulated by the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board of India and by November is expected to reach its full capacity of 1000 MWe.
The 2nd unit with VVER type reactor was constructed with Russian technical assistance. With 1,000 MWe of electricity to be generated from unit 2 the total amount of nuclear energy generated in the country to reach 6,780 MWe.
Site director of KNPP Sundar says that he is immensely satisfied with the performance of the reactors, turbines and other allied units as every section is functioning exceptionally well.
Having successfully accomplished synchronizing the first two reactors and the turbines with the Southern Grid, the KKNPP is now paying more attention for commencing the work on the construction of third and fourth reactors, each with a capacity of 1,000 MWe.
Site excavation for Unit-3 and 4 started early this year and main construction is expected to start in April 2017. Since then it would take around 69 months to start power production in Unit-3. By 2022-2023, power production is expected commence in these two units.
The first power unit of Kudankulum NPP was connected to the grid in 2013 and reached full capacity in July 2014.
The power plant in India’s southern state of Tamil Nadu built with assistance from Russia becomes the first joint nuclear energy project between the two countries. A total 12 power units are scheduled to be built in India with Russian assistance.