Russia delivers dummy fuel for Kudankulam nuclear power project
02 Sep 2009
Chennai: India has moved a step closer to commissioning the first unit of 2x1,000 MW Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project in Tamil Nadu with the arrival of dummy fuel from Russia.
Dummy fuel resembles real fuel in outward features but does not contain uranium and is used to test the functioning of all nuclear power plant systems. The reactor is allowed to attain criticality with real fuel only if these tests are a success.
Construction of two 1,000 MW nuclear power plants at Kudankulam is at a very advanced stage.
India received the first consignment of uranium fuel from Russia for the second 1,000 MW units at Kudankulam two weeks ago and the rest is expected to follow soon. Fuel for the first unit has arrived in early 2008.
The first unit is expected to go on stream sometime early next year with the second following some months later.
The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) is constructing the Kudankulam project jointly with Russia. Russia is committed to supplying fuel for the reactor's life time.
Russia has received follow-on contracts for four more reactors at Kudankulam. Ground work for the expansion has already commenced.