Kudankulam: Cost of units 3, 4 surpasses Rs 39,000 crore

NEW DELHI: Due to liability issues, the cost of units 3 and 4 of Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant 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 unit 1 and 2 is Rs 17,270 crore while the approved cost of unit 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 today.

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 1000 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 when then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visited Russia.

The approved cost of Prototype Fast Breeder Reaactor 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 11,459 have been approved.

Unit 1 of Kudankulam achieved full power in June 2014 and has so far generated 2825 MW electricity.

While the Unit 2 in at commissioning stage.