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Kudankulam Nuclear Unit 4 Faces Further Delays
10 Dec
Summary
- Kudankulam Unit-4's commissioning pushed to December 2027.
- Geopolitical issues and Russia-Ukraine conflict cited as reasons.
- Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor also experiencing construction delays.
The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) announced a revised commissioning date for Kudankulam Unit-4, now expected in December 2027, a four-month delay from the previous August 2027 target. This setback is primarily due to 'geopolitical challenges,' compounded by the non-availability of essential materials from Russia and financial difficulties faced by contractors, further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Units 3 and 4 of the Kudankulam plant, each with a 1,000 MW capacity, are being constructed by Russia's Atomstroyexport. While Units 1 and 2 are operational, the development of subsequent units has encountered multiple deadline extensions. The delays are a direct consequence of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, which has disrupted supply chains and quarry operations.
Separately, the 500 MWe Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) at Kalpakkam, which commenced construction in October 2004, is also experiencing significant delays. Despite being 97.90% complete and having received necessary permissions for fuel loading and initial operations, the project, described as 'first of a kind,' continues to grapple with technological complexities.
