A high-level delegation led by Director General of State Atomic Energy Corporation of the Russian Federation SV Kirienko visited Kudankulam in Tamil Nadu, the site where two 1,000-Mw Russian nuclear reactors are under construction.
According to official sources, the team which visited the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KNPP) site yesterday also inspected the site where four additional nuclear power reactors would be built. Later, Kirienko held talks with Chairman and Managing Director of Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) SK Jain. Kirienko appreciated the efforts put in by the Russian and Indian specialists as a joint team to complete the project.
According to sources, construction and other works at Unit-I of the KNPP are at an advanced stage, and the first reactor would reach criticality by April next. The enriched uranium fuel bundles, in ready-to-load condition and loading machine had reached Kundankulam.
The NPCIL had completed most of the work on building the first reactor. Recently, two 220 kv gas-insulated switchgear for the plant was charged and would provide required power supply for commissioning the works, the sources said.
KC Purohit, project director, KNPP, KS Rao, project director (KNPP three and four), and 17 Russian nuclear engineers also visited the first two reactors around the plant, the sources added.