Q&A: En Dudkin, Head, Russian specialists, Kudankulam nuclear project

'Kudankulam is the world's safest N-plant'

Local resistance has meant denial of entry into Tamil Nadu’s Kudankulam site for 130 Russian scientists and engineers who are in India since 2002, developing the nuclear project. En Dudkin, head of the Russian specialists group, tells Sanjay Jog about the necessity of clean power, the project’s safety and the agitation. Edited excerpts:

The Fukushima accident has been a major turning point for the global nuclear industry. Against this backdrop, how will the Kudankulam project fulfil safety requirements?
The Fukushima disaster (in Japan) was the result of a natural calamity (a tsunami). The reason was not technological. For India, China and all major developing countries, there is no other alternative to nuclear energy. This is the most economic, safe and ecologically clean.

 

From the technology point of view, safety is of primary importance — and has to be observed by all means. As far as the (2,000-Mw) Kudankulam project is concerned, it is the safest power plant in the world. The project has AS 92 design, with VVER 1,000 reactors. This is a fourth-generation plant. It is implemented strictly observing all safety norms, according to the Russian Federation norms and laws. The design has been approved by the International Atomic Energy Agency and certified by the European community and also by the World Association of Nuclear Operators.

What efforts were made during the project development to achieve localisation or indigenisation? Did you add any safety applications that were not there in the original design?
Let me have good words for my Indian colleagues. During the stage of signing the contract in 2002, both India and Russia took into account all the available safety conditions prevailing in my country — and also those at the stage of beginning.

Also, those systems that were non-existent in Russia were considered. For example, the PHRS (passive heat removal system), which was not existing, was incorporated in consultation with the Indian colleagues. The PHRS ensures cooling of the fuel under the most stressed condition of non-availability of power supply and cooling water.

Also, there is the provision of a core catcher to contain molten material and radioactivity within the reactor, even under the most severe accident resulting in fuel meltdown. The design of reactors also incorporates features such as core catcher, hydrogen management system to mitigate a severe accident scenario as witnessed at Fukushima.

Were the results during the hot run quite satisfactory?
The hot run of the power unit, which was accomplished in September, gave very safe and excellent results.

Even so, critics and the anti-nuclear lobby are doubtful about the survival of the project in the wake of a tsunami or a plane crash.
The reactor is protected by a double containment. The first containment is made of pre-stressed concrete, which is 1,000 mm thick. The second containment is made of 600-mm thick concrete. These containments are designed to withstand a tsunami and fall of any flying object including a plane crash.

The Kudankulam plant buildings have been designed for much larger earthquakes. The structures, systems and equipment of plant are designed for an earthquake magnitude of 6.0 on the Richter scale, with a peak ground acceleration of 0.15 g. An evaluation of the plant based on allowable stress values of materials has indicated that it can withstand significantly higher peak ground acceleration (of up to 0.6g).

In addition to the location at higher elevations, all the safety related buildings are closed with double-gasket leak-tight doors. Hence, water entry into these buildings is extremely remote even in the case of an abnormal seawater surge.

Villagers claim the discharge of water from the plant will destroy the fish population. Also, they fear a large-scale radiation will affect the population.
Kudankulam’s cooling water system provides for fish protection. The double containment system minimises the release of radioactivity or radiation. Are you perturbed over stoppage of work due to blockage by villagers?
The demands of the local people are not correct. In fact, they are directed and politicised. I want to reiterate that India has no alternative to nuclear energy, which is quite economic, safe and ecologically clean. We symphathise with our Indian colleagues. This hampers the progress as a whole.

Do you suspect the involvement of your competitors to run down the Russian reactors and technologies?
Probably, there is some such attempt by international suppliers. I don’t know for sure. It is not a secret that suppliers of nuclear technologies from the US, France and a couple of other countries are competing with Russia to enter the Indian market.