Commercial operation of Kudankulam plant expected next month

Commercial operation of the controversial Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KNPP) is expected to commence next month. The commercial operation of the 1000 MW first unit of the Indo-Russian project was slated for commissioning this month but is now expected in March, Nuclear Power Corporation Limited (NPCIL) said. The first unit achieved 99.7 per cent physical progress on December 2012. The plant, being built with Russian reactors, was originally scheduled for December 2011, but has been dogged by delays due to anti-nuclear protests. The over 500-day long protest against the plant, spearheaded by the People's Movement Against Nuclear Energy (PMANE) citing safety concerns has largely contributed to the delay in the commissioning of the plant. Meanwhile, former Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Dr M R Srinivasan told reporters at Udhagamandalam that the plant is expected to generate power from the first week of March and the second unit by mid-September. He dismissed reports of possibility of leakage from the plant, saying the entire plant is very safe and located in a high security zone. Srinivasan, here to launch the FM station of All India Radio, said more nuclear plants are required in the country to meet the acute power shortage.