TN seeks central intervention for resuming power generation from KNPP

Chennai: With its wind season drawing to a close and no clear indication of when Unit-I of Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KNPP) would recommence operations, Tamil Nadu government on Wednesday sought Central intervention in this matter.

Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa told Prime Minister Narendra Modi that KNPP Unit-I had started commercial operations on December 31, 2014, and that it had been shut down for the past 90 days for maintenance activities.

"The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited is yet to clearly indicate when the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant Unit-I will recommence production. As the wind season for Tamil Nadu has drawn to a close, it is crucial for the Kudankulam Unit-I to resume power generation immediately," she said.

"I, therefore, request you to kindly instruct the concerned officials in the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited to immediately take necessary action to recommence power generation in Kudankulam Unit-I," she told Modi in a letter.

Further, she said her government had been informed that Kudankulam Unit-II was undergoing final stages of commissioning activities and awaiting approval from the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board for full commercial production.

"I request you to kindly instruct the concerned officials to expedite the commercial operation of Kudankulam Unit-II, so that another 563 MW of power can be added to the Tamil Nadu Grid at the earliest," she told the Prime Minister.

Tamil Nadu has been allotted 563 of the 1000 mw from Unit-I.