CHENNAI: Claiming that they were moving in the "right direction," towards commissioning of the first unit of Koodankulam Nuclear Power Plant, officials Friday removed the dummy fuel out of the reactor.
"After getting clearances from the regulator, we opened the pressure vessel two days back and we have started removing the dummy fuel from today. We are moving in the right direction," R S Sundar, KKNPP Site Director, told PTI over phone.
The work of taking out the dummy fuel would go on for some days and certain work needed to be undertaken by officials, he said.
"Once we are done with this, we need clearance from the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) for loading real fuel," he said.
AERB had on May 10 permitted KKNPP officials to remove the dummy fuel from the reactor.
NPCIL had said the 1000 MW first unit of the controversy-hit KKNPP in Tirunelveli District was expected to start commercial operations in August this year.
Commissioning work at the Indo Russian project, which had remained stalled following protests by anti-nuclear activists citing safety concerns, resumed in full swing after the Tamil Nadu Government gave its green signal in March.