Commercial operation of Kudankulam plant delayed further

The commercial operation of the controversial Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KNPP) has been delayed further and is expected to commence next month.

The commercial operation of the 1,000 Mw first unit of the Indo-Russian project, which had been delayed following anti-nuclear protests, was expected in February, the Nuclear Power Corporation Limited (NPCIL) said.

The first unit has achieved 99.7 per cent physical progress as on December last. Similarly, the second unit designed to produce another 1,000 Mw has been pushed to September this year.

Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission Ratan Kumar Sinha recently said the first unit would be commissioned this month. “Within this month 100 per cent,” he had said. The plant, being built with Russian reactors, has already missed several deadlines since it was originally scheduled for December 2011.

The over 500-day long protest against the plant, spearheaded by People's Movement Against Nuclear Energy, citing safety concerns has largely contributed to the delay in the commissioning of the plant.