Koodankulam Nuclear Power Plant is a nuclear power station currently under construction in Koodankulam in the Tirunelveli district of the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Cost estimation of this project was $3 billion.
Two 1 GW units of the VVER-1000 model are being constructed by the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited. When the two are completed (estimated by December 2007 and December 2008, respectively), it will become the largest nuclear power generation complex in the country producing a cumulative of 2 GW of electric power. Both units are Water Cooled Water Moderated Power Reactors. The first unit is estimated to go into operation in 2007, while the second one is set for 2009. Four more reactors are set to be added to this plant. This will add another 2.5 GW output from the project. When completed, this will provide about 40% of the nuclear power in India.
The Inter-Governmental Agreement on the project was signed on November 20, 1988 by Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and Soviet President Mikahil Gorbachev. The project was in limbo for 10 years. There has been considerable struggle to stop this project due to nuclear pollution reasons. While United States complained about the agreement as it does not meet with the terms of the Nuclear Supplies Group (NSG), Russia contends that the Koodankulam deal was originally signed in 1988 and is therefore not subject to the 1992 NSG guidelines.
There are negotiations to see if a naval base is to be added here for both safeguarding the project and as a presence in the southern tip of the country. A mini port became operational in Koodankulam on January 14, 2004. The port has been established to receive barges carrying overdimensional equipments for light water reactors from ships anchored at a distance of 1½ km. This removes the necessity of land transportation that increases the possibility of damage. The Sethusamudram project will enhance the military and provide Nuclear Submarine base in the canal, with the nuclear fuel supplied by the Koodankulam Nuclear Project.
The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd. (NPCIL) is a Public Sector Undertaking under the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), Government of India. It was incorporated in September 1987 as a Public Limited Company under the Companies Act, 1956, with the objective of operating the atomic power stations and implementing the atomic power projects for the generation of electricity in pursuance of the schemes and programs of Government of India under the Atomic Energy Act.
NPCIL is solely responsible for constructing and operating India's commercial nuclear power programme. As of 2007 the company had 17 reactors under operation in 6 locations: with more under construction and with a Total Installed capacity of 4120MWe. All the nuclear power plants operated by the company are certified for ISO-14001 (Environment Management System). NPCIL is the only power utility company in India which utilizes nuclear fuel sources. Most of the generating stations operated by NPCIL are Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors, originally called as CANDU.
Subsequent to the government's decision to allow private companies to provide nuclear power, the company has experienced problems with private enterprises "poaching" its employees.
Koodankulam Nuclear Power Plant