Tamil Nadu wants Kudankulam power by mid September

Chennai: With the wind power season coming to an end, Tangedco has asked Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd to resume generation in the first 1000 mw reactor of Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KKNPP) by mid September. The unit has been shut down since June 24 for annual overhauling.

The nuclear reactor, which supplies 563 MW to the Tamil Nadu, was taken out of service for carrying out annual maintenance on June 24 for 60 days. As per schedule, the unit was supposed to come back to service on August 23 itself. But the 1000 MW reactor is expected to come into the service only in the end of September with a delay of over 30 days.

In a letter to NPCIL, Tangedco stated that generally in the month of September the wind generation drops from peak generation. In order to maintain the load generation balance during the month, it has requested that steps should be taken to bring back the unit I into generation on September 15 after completion of overhaul.

The state receives over 20 per cent of its daily energy requirement from windmills between June and September. On August 11, windmills supplied 4,144 mw out of 12,994-mw peak demand, the highest this year. Stating that the state was unlikely to face a power deficit, a senior Tangedco official said, “It is always better to have firm power supply. The wind generation will start dropping after the second week of September usually. The generation from KKNPP will help bridge the gap.”     

However, KKNPP site director R.S. Sundar said that the nuclear reactor would resume service only by the end of September. He said that the first time they have taken the unit for annual maintenance after the reactors began commercial operation on December 31, 2014.

“Several works are underway including replacement of spent fuel from the reactors. It is not possible to commence generation by September 15. We are targeting end of September only,” he told DC.