KNPP second unit set to attain criticality tomorrow

Scientists at the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KNPP) are gearing up to make the second unit attain criticality by Sunday evening, sources said on saturday.

"The first approach to attain criticality began last evening and right now the process is on. We are expecting to attain criticality by tomorrow late evening", official sources said.

Atomic Energy Regulatory Board had given its consent to the Nuclear Power Corporation of India, a PSU under the Department of Atomic Energy which manages the plant, to begin the criticality process.

"The sub-criticality tests are under process now", the official told PTI.

The KNPP reactors in Unit I and II Unit are set up under the Indo-Russian joint venture in which each reactor has the capacity to generate 1,000 MW of power.

The first unit began generating power in October 2013. Till May 2016, the first unit has made a cumulative generation of 5,777 million units.