After the successful commissioning and synchronisation of the first two 1,000 MWe VVER reactors of Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KKNPP), pre-project work on the third and the fourth units has gathered momentum with 6 lakh cubic metre of soil excavated since February, preparing the ground for early commencement of construction work.
Announcing this during the Independence Day celebrations at Anuvijay Township here on Monday, Site Director R.S. Sundar said the first reactor of KKNPP, performing exceptionally well since February 22 last, had generated 10,900 million units of electricity since its synchronisation with Southern Grid following the reactor’s criticality on July 13, 2013.
The second unit that attained criticality on July 10 cleared all mandatory tests and hence the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board gave its go ahead on Sunday for its synchronisation with the grid.
The “First Pour of Concrete”, a major milestone in the construction of Units 3 and 4, would take place before the start of next fiscal.
Under the Neighbourhood Development Programme, Mr. Sundar said, the KKNPP had spent Rs. 127 crore through the District Collector for infrastructure development in the villages around the project site. Another Rs. 120 crore had been released for the permanent housing scheme. Of the 10,000 houses proposed under this scheme, around 5,000 were nearing completion in the first phase.
Under the Corporate Social Responsibility in the last few years, the KKNPP had spent Rs. 10 crore for 300 projects, which included construction of additional classroom buildings in various schools, clean drinking water, and other activities.
Awareness campaign
“The Public Awareness Team of KKNPP is putting its best efforts to reach out to as many people as possible to bust the myth about nuclear energy and so far almost one lakh people had visited KKNPP site through various programmes since 2011. More than 350 lectures and seminars had been organised in schools, colleges, and other forums through which the KKNPP had met over 5 lakh people.
“This helped us in making the public understand the safety of the KKNPP reactors clearly. It is planned to intensify the programme to reach several schools and public institutions in a big way,” said the Site Director.
Mr. Sundar, who in June received Russian Government’s highest civilian award of ‘The Order of Friendship Award’, thanked the Russian Government, the Russian specialists at the project site, and various departments of KKNPP on the occasion.
