Kudankulam unit reconnected with grid

The first unit of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KNPP) was reconnected to the grid late on Friday. The plant, which had tripped on October 22, was now producing about 200 Mw, said a senior official.

The first unit, which had a total capacity of 1,000 Mw, was synchronised and connected to the grid at 9:43 pm on Friday, said R S Sundar, site director, KNPP. The plant was connected to the power station at Tirunelveli, he added.

Early October 22 morning, KNPP's first unit had tripped. The unit recorded criticality-the beginning of the fission process- in July 2013. "In the next two-three months, the unit would generate the entire 1,000 Mw capacity," said Sundar. It was reported the tripping of the unit might have resulted from a reverse power problem, owing to a fault in the transmission line/grid.

The plant is being set up by Nuclear Power Corporation of India and involves a total investment of about Rs 17,000 crore.