First unit again synchronised with southern grid

CHENNAI: The first unit of Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant was again synchronised with the southern power grid after completing the mandatory procedure of shutting down the unit, a top KNPP official tonight said.

"The first unit was synchronised at 9.43 pm. We are generating 160 MWe of power right now. It will eventually be increased," KNPP Site Director R S Sundar told PTI over phone.

The first unit, which was synchronised on October 22 with the southern power grid, produced 165 MW power in two hours before it was shut down.

"Preparatory works are now on. We are following procedures. The reactor continues to be operational. However, there are also certain mandatory procedures to be done after which power generation will resume soon," Sundar had said yesterday.

KNPP had said power would be increased gradually towards the 1000MW benchmark by December this year once the unit attains operational stability.

Unit 1 had attained criticality on July 13 this year after much delay following protests against the project by anti-nuclear activists in areas around the complex, citing safety reasons.

Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd is constructing two 1,000MW units at KNPP jointly with Russia at Kudankulam in Tiruneveli district, some 650km from here.