Atomic Energy Regulatory Board gives nod for equipment installation at Tamil Nadu's Kudankulam units 5 & 6

Mumbai: The Mumbai-headquartered Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) has granted permission for the erection of major equipment at Units 5 and 6 of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KKNPP) in Tamil Nadu.

The clearance allows the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) to proceed with the installation of critical plant components, including the reactor pressure vessel, steam generators, and coolant pumps—marking a significant milestone in the project’s construction phase.

The AERB said the approval follows the satisfactory completion of a multi-tier safety review of the reactor design, in line with its prescribed safety requirements. The regulator also assessed the progress of civil construction activities undertaken under the earlier permission granted in April 2021 for the “First Pour of Concrete” (FPC).

According to officials, Units 5 and 6 incorporate advanced safety features as mandated under the AERB’s Safety Code on the design of light water reactor-based nuclear power plants. These provisions are aligned with the latest safety standards set by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), ensuring compliance with global best practices.

Located in Tamil Nadu’s Tirunelveli district, the Kudankulam project comprises six pressurised water reactor (PWR) units of the VVER design, developed in technical collaboration with the Russian Federation. Each unit has a capacity of 1,000 MW(e), making it one of India’s largest nuclear power generation sites.

The first two units of the project have been operational since 2013 and 2015, respectively. Units 3 and 4 are currently at an advanced stage of construction, for which AERB had earlier granted clearance for major equipment erection.

With the latest approval, progress on Units 5 and 6 is expected to accelerate, further strengthening India’s nuclear power capacity and long-term energy security goals.