The first unit of the Kudankulam nuclear power project in India is expected to start generating electricity in the next 40 days, Minister of State V Narayanasamy said Monday.
"We are fast moving into the direction of generating electricity from Kundankulam Nuclear Power Project," he said.
The Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) is currently inspecting the site and plans to officially certify the Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL) plant in about a week. After certification, nuclear fuel will be loaded in the reactor, followed by a 20-day trial run.
"We will have a trial run for 20 days after which the first reactor will start generating power," Narayanasamy said.
NPCIL Chairman and Managing Director S. K. Jain is confident the plant will be commissioned soon.
"If all the clearances are available the way we are thinking, it should be possible for us to start the fuel loading sometime next month," he said last week, adding that NPCIL needs the AERB's clearance before it can announce an official schedule.
The project was close to completion last year, but has been repeatedly delayed due to protests and doubts about the safety of nuclear power.
According to Narayanasamy, the second 1000 MW unit at the plant is set to be commissioned within two months after the first unit.
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