Kudankulam unit I down for checks, to re-start in January: Government

New Delhi: The unit I of Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant has been shut down for regular checks and will be re-started next month, while unit II is expected to be commissioned by March or April 2016, government said on Monday.

Responding to a query over KNPP in Lok Sabha today, Union Minister Jitendra Singh, who handles the portfolio of Department of Atomic Energy, said, "Kudankulam phase I has two units. You rightly mentioned that the first unit is under shutdown. It is under shutdown on regular basis for checks and other things, but we are sure by January we will start it.

"As far as the second unit of Phase II is concerned, that also would be made functional by March or April of 2016," he said in response to the query raised by AIADMK MP PR Sundaram.

Sundaram said Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalithaa is taking keen interest in the nuclear power establishments in the state.

"I must admit that of course Tamil Nadu is one of our most precious storehouses of nuclear programme," Singh added.

Apart from KKNPP unit I of 1000 MW, Tamil Nadu also has two Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors of 220 MW each. Another unit II of 1000 MW is expected to be commissioned soon and country's first Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor of 500 MW is expected to be commissioned in September next year.