India's Kudankulam-2 nuclear reactor finally starts commercial operations

The plant will have eight nuclear reactors of 1,000MW each.

Enerdata reported that the second unit of the Kudankulam nuclear power plant (KNPP) located in Tamil Nadu (India) has achieved a new milestone and started commercial operations.

In January 2017, the Kudankulam-2 unit reached 100% of its operating capacity. The unit, developed by the Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL) and built by the ASE group (Rosatom), reached criticality in July 2016 and was connected to the grid in late August 2016.

"The KNPP will consist of up to eight nuclear reactors of 1,000 MW each. The first one started commercial operations on 31 December 2014. India and Russia have signed an agreement to build the second phase of the project (units 3 and 4) at a cost of Rs 33,000 crore (US$5.25bn). The units entered the construction phase in October 2016 and are expected to be commissioned in 2022 and 2023, respectively. Four additional 1,000 MW reactors are also under consideration," Enerdata said.

This story was originally published by Enerdata.