Nuke experts impressed by KKNPP safety features

Kanyakumari: Representatives of the nuc­lear regulators of 11 countries operating reactors of Russian VVER design are highly impressed about the safety systems in the Kuda­nkulam nuclear power project (KKNPP), according to Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) chairman S.S. Bajaj.

Speaking to mediapersons on the concluding day of the three-day meeting of the VVER Regulators For­um on Friday, organised for the first time in India at Ka­n­yakumari since the inception of the forum in 1993, the AERB chairman said the conference, attended by 14 nuclear experts from the nuclear regulatory bodies of 11 countries including Ch­ina, Russia, the Czech Re­­public, Slovakia, Iran, Fin­land and Bulgaria, hel­ped in mutual sharing of the review methodologies adopted by different regulatory bodies enhancing global nuclear safety in the VV­ER-type reactors.

The meeting dealt with comprehensive information about latest updates and recent developments in legislation, nuclear safety, regulatory activities, operational aspects of special interest, probabilistic safety assessment. The main thrust of the Regulators Fo­rum was on the measures taken after the Fukushima nuclear accident in Japan.

“The three-day meeting was useful as we shared our experience towards harmo­nising regulatory practi­ces,” said the AERB chairman. He also added that the successful commissioning of India’s first 1,000 Mwe, VV­ER-type pressurised li­ght water reactor at the Kuda­nk­­­ulam nuclear plant was the special reason for selecting Kanyakumari as the venue for this important, international event since most members of the forum wanted to visit KK­NPP that incorporates special passive and active safety aspects.

“The delegates visited KK­NPP, the first unit of which was synchronised to the na­t­ional g­rid recently and were qu­ite impressed by its safety aspects,” Bajaj said. AERB vice-chairman S. Duraisamy, secretary R. Bh­a­t­tacharya, director (nu­c­­lear projects safety division) K.J. Vakharwala, and director (operating safety division) P.R. Krishn­amu­rthy, and senior AE­RB officials were present during the press briefing.

Next: Full power of 1,000 MWe only if plant Fulfils regulatory norms:?AERB chairman

Full power of 1,000 MWe only if plant Fulfils regulatory norms:?AERB chairman

M. Aruloli | DC

Kanyakumari: If the Kudankulam nuc­lear power project (KK­NPP) administration fulfils all the regulatory req­uirements to the full­est satisfaction of the Ato­mic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) for its first unit, it can go ahead with achieving 1,000 Mwe wit­hin this month, said AE­RB chairman S.S. Bajaj.

Reacting to the claim by some Union ministers and NPCIL officials that they would be able to generate 1,000 Mwe by this December, he said, “It is for them to reach the target if they comply with all the regulatory norms to the fullest satisfaction of the AERB.”

However, indirectly ind­i­c­ating that it was not an easy job to satisfy the AERB that has a big team of 300 nuclear scientists and engineers scrutinising every aspect of safety as per around 140 courses and guides of the regulatory body, Mr Bajaj said the first unit of KKNPP has been under AERB review for more than a decade — since it gave siting clearance for the project.

He explained that the nuclear regulatory body has very minutely examined the project at every phase and given approval for fuel loading, attaining criticality, low-power phy­sical test and to increase the reactor power up to 50 per cent.

“Even after these appr­ovals, they (KKNPP) are supposed to do a series of mandatory tests,” he ex­pl­ained who added that the plant has not been given clearance for commercial generation to fe­ed the grid and power generation now was merely for testing.

He said siting clearance for the third and fourth reactors at KKNPP have been given, while the application to start exca­va­­tion work is being rev­iewed. However, he ruled out nuclear recycling plant at Kud­ank­ulam.

On the Jaitapur nuclear park in Maharashtra, he said, “We have not given any substantial clearance for any of the activities for the Jaitapur project.