The unallocated 50 MW power out of the 1,000 MW being generated by the first reactor of Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KKNPP) has been allotted to Andhra Pradesh.
In a statement, KKNPP site Director R.S. Sundar said the 1,000 MW power, being transmitted from KKNPP’s first reactor to the Southern Grid near Abhishekapatti in Tirunelveli, would be shared among Tamil Nadu (562.50 MW), Puducherry (33.50 MW), Kerala (133 MW) and Karnataka (221 MW) and the remaining unallocated power of 50 MW would be given to Andhra Pradesh, as per the latest notification from Central Electricity Authority.
The reactor would generate 2.40 crore unit per day as it was being operated at maximum capacity of 1,000 MW. Asked whether the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board granted permission for conducting ‘hot run’ in the second reactor of KKNPP, Mr. Sundar said he was waiting for crossing the milestone as the second unit was being expected to attain criticality before May next year.
After completion of the hot run, the reactor would be disassembled and the control rod drives removed.
The cover of the reactor would be opened up and the dummy fuel assemblies inside the reactor vessel removed.
Then the reactor vessel, the main coolant pipelines and all associated systems would be inspected for their integrity using highly sophisticated robotic machines.
The results of the hot run and inspection by the robotic machines will be reviewed by the Indian specialists along with their Russian counterparts.
After further review by the regulatory authorities, the KKNPP officials will make a request to the regulatory authorities for loading the real fuel assemblies into the reactor.
Mr. Sundar indicated that the cost of per unit of power being generated by the first reactor might be around Rs. 4.
