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Kudankulam NPP first unit to be started up in two months – Indian state minister

It is just necessary to load fuel in the first unit’s reactors for beginning its operation, he said

NEW DEHI, April 8 (Itar-Tass) —— The Indian government is confident that the first unit of the Kudankulam nuclear power plant under construction in the southern state Tamil Nadu will be started up within two months, Indian Minister of State V. Narayanasamy said on Sunday.

It is just necessary to load fuel in the first unit’s reactors for beginning its operation, he said. The second unit is ready at 95%.

The Kudankulam NPP startup was delayed for two months following atomic energy protests of last September. The protests resumed in mid-October and the road to the nuclear power plant was blocked. The Tamil Nadu government decided to resume the construction works in late March.

Russia’s Atomstroyexport assists the construction of the nuclear power plant under the atomic energy cooperation agreement signed between the former Soviet Union and India in November 1988. The construction started after the signing of a general agreement on building the Kudankulam NPP and a memorandum on cooperation fundamentals and mutual obligations in November 2001. Russia pledged technical support, delivery of equipment and materials and training of the Indian personnel.