Kudankulam power plant unit 2 attains criticality

Nuclear Power Corporation of India expects it to start generation of 400 MW in 45 days

Kudankulam nuclear power project's second unit of 1,000 MW has attained first criticality at 8.56 pm on Sunday. It is the twenty second nuclear power reactor in the country and second pressurised water reactor belonging to light water reactor category.

Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL) said after the reactor starts generating 400 MW of power within 45 days from the date of criticality, it is likely to be connected to the grid. Generation of power will be raised to 500 MW, 750 MW, 900 MW and 1,000 MW in stages. With the addition of 1,000 MW from the Kudankulam's unit 2 to the southern grid, the installed capacity of the nuclear power will increase to 6,780 MW from the present 5,780 MW.

According to NPCIL, the first approach to criticality was undertaken after conforming to all the criteria for system performances as per the design requirements and after meeting all the stipulated statutory and regulatory requirements laid down by Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB).

The Kudankulam's first unit of 1,000 MW, after attaining criticality in July 13, 2013, was synchronised with the southern grid in October the same year. It has generated 5,777 million units of power till May 2016. Tamil Nadu, which is getting its share of 562.50 MW from the first unit, is expected to get about 462.50 MW from the second unit. Both units are VVER-1000 type reactors set up with technical cooperation from the Russian Federation.

NPCIL said Kudankulam reactors incorporate enhanced safety features ensuring the highest level of safety in line with the current international standards. These Generation III plus reactors incorporate a combination of active and passive safety systems like passive heat removal system, hydrogen recombiners, core catcher, hydro accumulators and quick boron injection system.