Due to liability issues, the cost of units 3 and 4 of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project has shot up to Rs. 39,747 crore, more than twice the cost of units 1 and 2, which will lead to an increase in per unit cost of power.
The approved cost of units 1 and 2 is Rs. 17,270 crore while the approved cost of units 3 and 4 is Rs 39,747 crore, Minister of State for Department of Atomic Energy Jitendra Singh said in a written response to a question in Lok Sabha on Wednesday.
Sources in DAE pointed out that the high price was due to the liability issue under which the operators and suppliers have to insure the units. All the four reactors, with a capacity of 1,000 MW each, have been built with Russian assistance.
The unit, which was shut down due to technical reasons, is expected to start generating power this week. It was connected to southern grid in October 2013.
The approved cost of the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor at Kalpakkam is Rs. 5,677 crore, while units 7 and 8 of Rajasthan Atomic Power Station (RAPS) is Rs. 12,320 crore. For units 3 and 4 of Kakrapar Rs. 11,459 crore have been approved.
Unit 1 of Kudankulam achieved full power in June 2014 and has so far generated 2,825 MW electricity, while unit 2 is at commissioning stage.
