The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) said it has achieved a significant construction milestone at unit 5 of the Kudankulam NPP with the installation of the Reactor Pressure Vessel (RPV) inside the reactor building following Major Equipment Erection (MEE) clearance from Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB). This signals the start of the installation of Nuclear Steam Supply System equipment in the unit.
The RPV, weighing approximately 320 tonnes, was lifted, and installed using a specialised heavy-lift crane adhering to all safety and quality protocols. NPCIL said installation of the RPV reflects the close coordination and dedicated efforts of NPCIL and Russia’s Atomstroyexport (ASE).
Kudankulam NPP will comprise six units with VVER-1000 reactors. Work began following an intergovernmental agreement between India and Russia signed in 1988. Units 1&2 (Phase I) are already in operation and work is underway to build units 3-6 (Phases II and III). The customer and operator of the station is NPCIL, the general contractor is JSC ASE (Rosatom’s Engineering Division), general designer Atomenergoproject and equipment designer OKB Gidropress. Upon completion of these projects, the Kudankulam site will have a total installed capacity of 6000 MWe.
NPCIL reiterated its commitment to maintaining the highest standards of nuclear safety, quality, and environmental protection while advancing towards achieving India’s clean energy goals in-line with the nuclear energy goals of Viksit Bharat (Developed India). Viksit Bharat is a comprehensive vision by the Government of India to transform the nation into a fully developed country by 2047, the 100th anniversary of its independence.
