 "A policeman walks on a beach near Kudankulam nuclear power project (photo: Reuters)")
The first unit of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant was on Wednesday dedicated to the nation jointly by prime minister Narendra Modi, Russia president Vladimir Putin, and Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa through video-conferencing.
With the second unit expected to be commissioned by end of this month, Modi said five more reactors, of 1,000 megawatt (Mw) each, would come up in the same location. Kudankulam village is in Tirunelveli district, 650 km (kilometre) from Chennai.
The reactors are being built jointly by Nuclear Power Corporation of India and a subsidiary of Russia's state nuclear power corporation, Rosatom. India-Russia nuclear plant collaboration is a celebration of India's friendship with Russia. India is planning to build a series of nuclear power plants.
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“I have a vision for India where achievements of our economic developments will benefit earth. The success of this plant demonstrates a common resolve to build new ties. Engines of growth must be driven by clean energy. The unit of Kudankulam plant also signals our joint commitment to build pathways of partnership for green growth, said Modi.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said that it is a big event for our Indian partners and for all of us. The power plant is updated with most modern Russian technologies. It is not just construction and commissioning of the power plant.
“The achievement of phenomenal capaicity by the first and in the near future by the second unit of KNPP will raise the energy supply of India and enhance its economic stance,” he said
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa said that the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant is a monument commemorating the long-standing, abiding and deep friendship between Russia and India. Nuclear power is clean, green and firm power, which a rapidly growing State like Tamil Nadu, aspiring to even higher growth rates and shared prosperity, really needs.
The dedication of the KKNPP is a major milestone in Indo-Russian Friendship and Co-operation.
Tamil Nadu always extended support to the implementation of the Kudankulam Project while at the same time laying emphasis on allaying the fears of the local people by convincing them about the safety aspects of the plant, she said.
The successful commissioning of the Kudankulam project is an object lesson on how the fears and apprehensions of the local population can and should be allayed, through a process of engagement and reassurance, and by building community assets and infrastructure, said Jayalalithaa.
She added, an expert committee was formed to address the concerns of the citizens and based on the report the govt of Tamil Nadu agreed to take steps for the early commissioning of the and allocate Rs 500 crore, which led the plant to restart the work.
The project & expansion
The first unit of the Indian nuclear power plant is already in service. It was connected to the southern grid.
According KKNPP's site director, R S Sundar from February 22 till today 1080 crore unit of power produced from the Unit-I, which is a good performance.
He added, Unit-II will be ready by end of this month, while for Unit-III and IV the work is expected to start next year. Russian President said general frame work would be signed by end of this year.
Modi in his speech said that five more units would come with 1000 MW each.
“We have huge plans with our Indian friends in this area. This February works at the construction site of the third and fourth units have begun. We expect that by this year end the general framework agreement to construct third lead of the power plant will be signed,” said Putin.
Almost 85 per cent of the funding of the project has come from the State loan of the Russian Federation, he added.
Initial cost of the first two units was estimated to be around Rs 13,171 crore. Both units of the Russian technology Kudankulam plant have been made at a cost of over Rs 22,000 crore and are 10 years behind schedule. Cost increase was due to the delay, rupee depreciation and certain other factors. Meanwhile, Unit-III and Unit-IV is expected to cost around Rs 39,000 crore and would be ready by 2022.
The reactors at Kudankulam are being built by the NPCIL and Russia’s Atomstroyexport company, a subsidiary of Rosatom (the regulatory body of the Russian nuclear complex).
S P Udhayakumar, who spearheading the protest against the Plant said \"the first plant tripped 32 times in the last two years and is still limping along its way to credible power generation. Video conference seems to be the best hi-tech solution for the Russians and the Indian government to duck and dodge all kinds of disturbing questions.\"
Background
The Indian government signed a contract with the Soviet Union to build the plant in 1988, but construction started only in 1997 due to the political and economic upheaval in Russia after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.
The construction of the first two units were later halted in September 2011 following protests by villagers around the plant. Work at the plant finally resumed in March 2012. After court and governments, both state and centre, interventions the issue was addressed.
On July 13, 2013, power generation started initially it was 300 MW and it was increased to 500 MW step by step.
In December 2014, KKNPP Unit I was declared commercial operation from midnight of December 31, 2014.
The allocation from KKNPP-1&2 (2000 MW) include Tamil Nadu (925 MW), Karnataka (442 MW), Kerala (266 MW), Puducherry (67 MW) and 300 MW remains unallocated. At present out of unallocated quota of 150 MW of KKNPP-1, 100 MW is allocated to Tamil Nadu and 50 MW to Andhra Pradesh.
