The VVERs at KudanKulam

A Nuclear Power Project is being set-up at KudanKulam in the state of Tamil Nadu, India in collaboration with the Russian Federation. The project comprises of two units each of 1000 MWe VVER type reactor. The design of the plant and supply of all the major equipment is in the scope of the Russian Federation while development of infrastructure and project construction is in Indian scope of works. The VVER (Version V-412) reactor that is under construction at KudanKulam site is an advanced PWR, which incorporates all the features of a modern PWR as per the current Russian, Western and IAEA standards. The KudanKulam site in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu was one among the several sites evaluated by the Site Selection Committee, which cleared KudanKulam site for setting up an installed capacity up to 6000 MWe. The design, construction and operation of the plant meets the regulatory and licensing requirements of Russian regulatory body “RTN” as also India's Atomic Energy Regulatory Board. The supply of the equipment from the Russian Federation is on schedule and the project construction work by various Indian agencies is also ahead of schedule. The two units of KudanKulam Nuclear Power Project (KKNPP) are scheduled to achieve first criticality in the year 2007–2008. The paper discusses various design features, project construction and management aspects.