'All activities at KNPP nuclear power plant focused on loading fuel in Unit 1'

KUDANKULAM: All activities at Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant are now focused on Initial Fuel Loading for the first reactor, a top KNPP official said here today

"With the Atomic Regulatory Board giving clearance to the Intial fuel loading and first approach to criticality, we are focussed on loading the fuel" Koodankulam Site Director RS Sundar said, speaking at Independence day celebrations here.

He expressed confidence that the first unit would generate 1000 MW before January 26 2013.

"Efforts to commission Unit 2 is also being taken up in the same spirit and hopefully by next Aug 15, we will achieve significant milestones on this unit also," he said.

Stating that all safety standards would be fully satisfied, he said plant operation engineers are licensed to operate VVER reactors. "We have also signed the inter-governmental agreement for finalising credit terms beween India and Russia for the third and fourth units," he said.

He also said the Central expert group had made 'sincere' efforts to help allay fears of the local people over safety aspects of KNPP and explained various facts scientifically.

Under the neighbourhood development programme, Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited would contribute Rs 200 crore for the uplift of the local community, he said.

The first unit of KNPP, an Indo-Russian joint venture,was scheduled for commissioning in December last, but was bogged down by delay due to protests against the project.