Kudankulam, Dec 14 (UNI) The construction of the 1000 MW Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KNPP) has achieved a major milestone with the installation of the main reactor in Unit-II.

The Reactor Pressure Vessel (RPV), the main item of the Nuclear Steam Supply System, was installed inside the reactor Building-2 in a smooth operation in the presence of Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited Director S K Agarwal, KKNPP Project Director K C Purohit and Russian and Indian experts.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Agarwal said the RPV was the heart of the nuclear plant and in this vessel, the heat was produced by nuclear fuel fission. The RPV weighs around 320 tonnes and is 4.15 m in inner diameter and 11.2 m in height.

The Vessel is made of 200 mm thick alloy steel with stainless steel cladding inside.

The erection of the RPV was carried out by Indian engineers from NPCIL under the supervision of the Russian specialists.

It signifies a major milestone as the major equipment and piping erection works inside reactor building start with vessel erection.

In the 1000 MW KKNPP Unit-1, the reactor pressure vessel had already been erected and it was expected to be commissioned by the end of next year and the Unit-II in a gap of next six to eight months.

UNI