After a hiatus of seven months, the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant in Tirunelveli district resumed power production in its first unit today.
"The first unit (1000 MW) has begun production by 8 am today, we have started generating about 300 MW and production will be stepped up in a phased manner in keeping with the norms," Project Director, Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project, K P Sundar told PTI.
Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant started commercial operations on December 31, 2014 and was shut down for maintenance from June 24 last year.
He said during the next step, requisite processes that complement resumption of generation will be taken up. It includes carrying out checks on the turbine generator, and power generation will be increased in a staggered fashion.
"This is in keeping with the original schedule and according to norms."
In December last year, Jayalalithaa had urged the Centre to direct the NPCIL to recommence production in Kudankulam Unit-I early to meet the Tamil Nadu grid demand.
She made the request at the 26th Southern Zonal Council meet, chaired by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh at Vijayawada. Her speech was read out by State Finance Minister O Panneerselvam.
(Reopens FGN 19)
Earlier, Deputy Director General of IAEA MV Chudakov said more and more countries were opting for nuclear energy and the UN body was helping in creating necessary infrastructure for safe operations of nuclear energy.
"We believe in the future of nuclear power," he said while addressing the conference.
Agneta Rising, Director General of the World Nuclear Association, said that share of nuclear power in the global energy balance will be growing, with more than a thousand new reactors likely to be constructed by 2050.
"Share of nuclear power in the global energy balance will be growing. More than a thousand new nuclear reactors may be constructed and commissioned by 2050. This is a very important task as we need to reduce hydrocarbon consumption globally," she said.
She said that Russiawas successfully performing transfer of technology and nuclear power plant operation practises to other countries,whichwas "particularly important in view of the fact that more and more countries are opting for nuclear power".
Meanwhile, various speakers at the plenary session batted in support of nuclear energy to reduce carbon emission.
SV Kiriyenko, General Director,Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation, said developing countries were "paying a lot of attention" to nuclear power and other forms of power.
Bruno Comby, President, Environmentalists for Nuclear Energy, favoured atomic power and insisted that zero carbon situation was feasible but with more useof nuclear power to ensure that.
Nuclear energy was "compact, abundant and cheap enough," he said, adding that when compared to other forms like oil, lesser quantity of uranium could generate more power.
