KKNPP goes ahead with units III, IV

The KKNPP has two units of VVER-1000 reactors. Each unit has the capacity to produce 1,000 MW of power each. The Unit-I of the complex attained criticality twice after its installation. Once on July 13, 2013, and another on January 21, 2016. At present the unit is connected to the Central grid and the plant started feeding power to the grid from January 30, 2016 again. The power production had commenced gradually and reached the peak of 1000 mw. As on Sunday, the unit is producing 813 MW of power. The Unit-II of KKNPP at present has been shut down. After the completion of the maintenance works and mandatory tests, the unit is likely to commence its run from Monday, said a senior KKNPP official. Initially, the two units were planned at Kudankulam at a cost of Rs 13,171 crore but owing to delay in the commencement of project and various issues including protests in the neighbouring coastal village of Idinthakarai, the cost of the project escalated. Finally, Rs 17,270 crore was allotted for the two reactors. The agreement between India and Russia for setting up two new units of III and IV was signed in April 2014. The project was pegged at a cost of Rs 33,000 crore. Due to the delays the cost escalated to Rs 39,849 crore. The first concrete for the new units were poured during the recent visit by the Russian President Putin to India. Officials said that since the construction activities on the new units are still in the initial phase, the exact time of the commencement of power production by the units cannot be revealed now. “We will be able to fix a date for power production from the new units only after the completion of the first phase of work,” an official said. 

The Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) gave its clearance for the Units III to VI of Kundankulam Nuclear Power Plant recently. The clearance was based on a comprehensive environment assessment study done by the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI).  

In a letter addressed to the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL), the Ministry said that four units, from III to VI each with 1,000 MW of power production capacity are proposed in the same complex. The functional setup of the proposed units is similar to the already existing Units-I and II. The units would have four coolant systems and the condenser would be cooled by sea water. The plants would have advanced features and are termed as first of its kind in technology. Active safety systems are featured in and to be backed up by passive safety systems too, the letter said. It also reiterated that the units’ location would not be affected much by natural calamities like tsunami, earthquake and other disturbances.  The NEERI study has made it clear that there are no wildlife sanctuaries, national parks, biosphere reserves, monuments and reserve parks in the 15 km vicinity of the proposed units. The study added that the Gulf of Mannar (GOM) Biosphere Reserve is located nearly 105 km away from the nuclear plant complex. Hence, the clearance for the proposed nuclear power units have been granted with few general instructions, the letter concluded.

The People’s Movement Against Nuclear Energy (PMANE) which had been instrumental in leading the protests against Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP) will now be replaced by another organisation named Youth Against Nuclear Energy (YANE).

PMANE was launched by anti-nuke activist SP Udayakumar. Idinthakarai village near KKNPP in Tirunelveli district was the nucleus of the protests. Udayakumar organised a series of protests with the help of the locals and involved large number of fishermen in them. For the first time local Church authorities, fishermen and women protested under his leadership. The women of the village stood firm and carried on with the protest for a long time despite various repercussions. However, the protesters lost ground on the nuclear plant attaining criticality. In a fresh bid to revive the anti-nuke protests, activists have formed the YANE. It was launched at a function in Tiruchy recently. Speaking to DTNext , Udayakumar, said “YANE is setup as a successor to PMANE. The leaders of PMANE will be gradually replaced by members of YANE who will be highly trained. As government did not respond to our protests, we have to move to the next stage. I along with Soundarajan, environment activist attached with Poovulagin Nanbargal, will train the youths.” He also claimed that youth have realised the problems attached with nuclear plants and are ready to take forward the protests to the next level.