Tirunelveli: Tamil Nadu may have to contend with a deficit of around 500 MW supplied from the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KKNPP) as its 1,000 MW first unit was shut down for annual maintenance for 60 days from Wednesday. With the surge in temperatures during daytime power consumption in the state during this summer is said to touch 13,000 MW, creating a tough time for the Tamil Nadu government to manage the situation. Adding to the crisis is the shortage of 562 MW supplied to the state grid from KKNPP.
The nuclear reactor, however, has been put on cold shutdown for 60 days for annual maintenance. According to R.S. Sundar, the site director, KKNPP, the first unit of KKNPP that was functional for a cumulative period of 9267 hours, generated 6873 million units of power till 7 am on Wednesday. “However as it is mandatory to shut down the plant as per the norms of the atomic energy regulatory board continuously for two months for annual maintenance the plant was shut down,” said Mr Sundar, who added that the shut down process was completed by 11.30 am on June 24. The plant was generating 600 MW on Tuesday.
During the shut down period, about one-third of the nuclear fuel assemblies of the total number of 163 fuel rods will be replaced with new nuclear fuel rods, said Sundar, adding, the fuel assemblies removed from the reactor core would be safely stored at the spent fuel pool (SFP) having borated water to contain radiation.
The second unit of KKNPP that is expected to commence generation within this year has completed the hot run tests and the integrated commissioning tests. “Reports have been submitted for regulatory review and review process is in progress,” added Sundar.
