CHENNAI: After functioning for 278 days since February, Unit 1 of Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP) has gone off-air, which activists claim has tripped again.
However, officials claim it was a planned shutdown.
The site director RS Sundar said the reactor had been functioning continuously for 278 days since February and so the reactor deactivated for maintenance. “It would take 10 days to complete the work. The Unit 2 is generating 670 MWe power now,” he added.
According to sources, the Unit 1 was generating at least 815MWe for a month before the shutdown.
Meanwhile, anti-nuclear activists assert that KKNPP Unit 1 has tripped bringing back the focus on the quality of components used.
It has become impossible to keep track of the number of times the unit has tripped since its inception two years ago.
According to the activists, resuming the work on other units will mean disregard to the safety of the people in the vicinity and their justified demands.
“We demand an independent probe of Units 1 and 2 and stopping its expansion,” said Sundarrajan of Poovulagu Nanbargal, an organisation that has filed several petitions against the commissioning of the plant.