AERB gives the permit for power start-up of Kudankulam-2 (India)

Atomic Energy Regulatory Body (AERB) gave a permit for the power rise of the reactor plant, thus, the Nuclear Power Corporation of India obtained from the atomic regulator the permit for power start-up of Kudankulam NPP second unit. “Tonight the start of operations for bringing the reactor power unit to the minimum controllable power level is planned, with subsequent loading of the reactor up to the level of 30% of the nominal neutron power”, said Mr. Andrey Lebedev, Vice-president for projects in South Asia of ASE Group of Companies, “The Customer’s planned deadline for connection of Kudankulam NPP second unit to the national Grid is August 27-28, 2016”. The supervisory body believes that the unit may be operated safely.

On July 10, 2016, power unit №2 of Kudankulam NPP constructed in India under technical support of ASE Group of Companies, was risen to the minimum controllable power level (MCL). The beginning of the physical start-up of power unit No. 2 took place on May 11, 2016, when, after performance of all preparatory works, the first fuel assembly was installed in the reactor. In total, 163 fuel assemblies were loaded into the reactor. All the works were performed by Russian and Indian specialist in the mode of automatic operations, in strict compliance with the schedule and safety regulations. The permit for loading was obtained from the supervisory body of India (AERB) after the detailed review of all Safety Reports prepared earlier. On May 19, 2016, the loading of the fresh fuel into the reactor of Kudankulam NPP second unit was successfully completed. The works were performed fully in the automatic mode within the time interval of less than 7 days, 4 days in advance of the schedule. Further the fuel loading was controlled by IAEA inspectors, thereafter the works for the reactor sealing were performed. On June 28 the permit for rising power to MCL was obtained from the Indian regulator AERB. On July 10 the reactor plant was brought to MCL. On July 18 in accordance with deadlines of the Power Unit Commissioning Program, the stage of physical experiments at low levels of power was successfully completed.

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The basis for construction of Kudankulam NPP is Atomenergoproekt JSC design with power units VVER-1000 MW, which fully complies with requirements of up-to-date regulatory and technical documents of Russia, IAEA, and which was certified for compliance with European Utility Requirements (EUR). Kudankulam NPP is being constructed in India within the framework of Russian-Indian agreement dated November 20, 1988 and the amendment thereto dated June 21, 1998. The General Contractor (in part of the detail design, supply of the equipment and technical support) is Atomstroyexport JSC. The General Designer is Atomenergoproekt JSC. The Customer is the Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL).