Koodankulam N-plant has been permitted to to increase the power generation.
Indian atomic energy regulator has allowed the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd. (NPCIL) to increase the power generation of the first unit at Koodankulam up to 75 percent.
The unit will have to conduct tests. Based on the test reports, further increase of power generation would be permitted.
The NPCIL is setting up two 1,000 MW Russian reactors at Koodankulam in Tirunelveli district, 650 km from here. The total outlay for the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KKNPP) is over Rs.17,000 crore.
KKNPP is India`s first pressurised water reactor belonging to the light water reactor category.
The first unit attained criticality in July 2013, which is the beginning of the fission process.
In August 2013, AERB permitted NPCIL to operate the reactor up to 50 percent level.
As the first unit at KNPP is yet to be declared as commercially operational, the power generated is termed as infirm power and supplied to the home state – Tamil Nadu – at low rates.
Currently, the power is supplied to Tamil Nadu power utility at just over Re.1 per unit. Only when the unit is declared as commercially operational, NPCIL can charge higher rate. The NPCIL is expected to realise a commercial tariff of around Rs.2.60 per unit.
It is reliably learnt KKNPP is likely to touch 75 percent generation levels sometime next week.
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