With the 48-hour count down set to start on Friday, scientists and engineers at the Koodankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP) are busy preparing for loading fuel assemblies into the 1,000 MW Unit 1 of the plant.
The authorities are awaiting the final nod from the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB), to start loading fuel assemblies into the first unit. The final clearance may be given by the AERB during a crucial meeting scheduled to be held in Mumbai on Friday morning. Meanwhile, scientists at the KKNPP are busy with the preparatory work for loading fuel assemblies into the reactor. The process started on Tuesday last.
On Thursday, all reports pertaining to the functioning of the reactor and preparations were forwarded to the AERB officials, as per the rules and regulations.
Following the Supreme Court’s green light, the Russian and Indian scientists held a series of meetings with AERB officials at KKNPP.
“We have held elaborate discussions to conduct the fuel loading process within a particular time. AERB has given the nod for the preparatory work for fuel loading, which will start within 48 hours of the countdown. We are waiting for the final technical clearance to begin fuel loading. AERB chairman SS Bajaj will chair the concurrence meet on Friday at the AERB headquarters in Mumbai,” revealed an official.
“The permission to start fuel loading will most probably arrive at the end of the meeting, after which we will start the countdown process,” he added. The scientists are planning to start fuel loading during the late hours of Saturday or in the wee hours of Sunday.
They will complete loading the 163 fuel assemblies with nuclear tubes within 15 days. The criticality process will begin on October 1.
The commercial operation is expected to start 24 hours after the criticality attainment results, the scientist added.
At present, the technicians are busy moving fuel into the plant. Around 75 tonnes of enriched Uranium is being moved from the storage shed to the reactor core laboratory. Sources said that the work will be completed in a day.
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