The VVER 1,000-MWe reactor vessel for the sixth unit of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KKNPP) is en route to the site in Tirunelveli district, Tamil Nadu.
Manufactured at Atommash, the mechanical engineering division of Rosatom State Corporation, the reactor vessel weighs 320 tonnes.
Transportation and Setup:
The vessel was pre-assembled, transported to Novorossiysk seaport, and loaded onto a ship for its 6,000-mile (9,656 km) journey to India.
Along with the reactor, four steam generators for the sixth unit will also be shipped this year.
Operational History:
Currently, four VVER 1,000-MWe reactors are operational at KKNPP.
The first two units have been producing power since 2013 and 2016, with a proven track record in terms of safety and efficiency.
Future Plans:
Rosatom plans to enhance reactor designs with increased capacity, operational efficiency, and economic indicators.
New developments include reactors for nuclear power plants in Russia and abroad.
Key Points:
The KKNPP is a major component of India’s nuclear energy program, enhancing energy security.
Russia remains a critical partner for India in the development and operation of nuclear reactors.
The long-term reliability of VVER reactors underscores their role in India’s energy diversification strategy.
The water-water energetic reactor (WWER), or VVER (water-water power reactor) is a series of pressurized water reactor designs originally developed in the Soviet Union, and now Russia, by OKB Gidropress
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