Marking a decisive step forward in the commissioning of the Kudankulam atomic plant, the country's nuclear regulator has given a go ahead for loading of fuel for the first unit of project which has been delayed due to controversies.
'Yes, based on the recommendations of the safety committee, we have granted permission for fuel loading,' the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) chairperson S S Bajaj said in Mumbai.
With the AERB go-ahead, the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) will start loading 163 fuel assemblies into the first 1,000 MW unit of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project, which is being developed with Russian collaboration. Shiv Abhilash Bhardwaj, a director of the corporation said that the fuel loading would commence in 10 to 15 days.
Experts say that the company will take about a week's time to load the fuel assemblies, each 4.57 metres long, into the reactor core and conduct the first approach to criticality. The 1,000 MW Russian reactor will use enriched uranium as fuel and light water as coolant and moderator.
The initial fuel loading and first approach to criticality will be carried out under the supervision of AERB officials who will ensure all safety measures to be in place and also verify the compliance to AERB approved procedures. After the loading of fuel, the NPCIL will again come to AERB to seek clearance in phase-wise increase of reactor power level.
'Yes, based on the recommendations of the safety committee, we have granted permission for fuel loading,' the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) chairperson S S Bajaj said in Mumbai.
With the AERB go-ahead, the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) will start loading 163 fuel assemblies into the first 1,000 MW unit of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project, which is being developed with Russian collaboration. Shiv Abhilash Bhardwaj, a director of the corporation said that the fuel loading would commence in 10 to 15 days.
Experts say that the company will take about a week's time to load the fuel assemblies, each 4.57 metres long, into the reactor core and conduct the first approach to criticality. The 1,000 MW Russian reactor will use enriched uranium as fuel and light water as coolant and moderator.
The initial fuel loading and first approach to criticality will be carried out under the supervision of AERB officials who will ensure all safety measures to be in place and also verify the compliance to AERB approved procedures. After the loading of fuel, the NPCIL will again come to AERB to seek clearance in phase-wise increase of reactor power level.