Russia airlifts nuclear fuel for Kudankulam’s third reactor

The nuclear fuel division of Russia’s Rosatom, which is constructing nuclear reactors at Kudankulam in Tamil Nadu’s Tirunelveli district, has started delivering nuclear fuel for the initial loading of the highly advanced fuel in the third unit of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KKNPP).

- BY S VENKAT NARAYAN

The cargo flight carrying the fuel assemblies manufactured by the Novosibirsk Chemical Concentrates Plant, an enterprise of the Rosatom’s Nuclear Fuel Division, in Siberia successfully delivered the fuel for the maiden loading of nuclear fuel in the third reactor of KKNPP.

A total of seven flights from Russia to India are planned to supply the entire reactor core and some reserve fuel. The shipments of fuel are provided under the contract signed in 2024, which includes fuel supply for units 3 and 4 of the KKNPP for the entire service life starting from the initial loading.

During the operation of the two power units of the first phase of the KKNPP, Russian and Indian engineers have done considerable amount of work to increase their efficiency through the introduction of advanced nuclear fuel and extended fuel cycles.

Starting from 2022, the KKNPP is supplied with nuclear fuel of the TVS-2M model that ensures extended fuel cycle. It provides more reliable and cost-effective reactor operation due to its rigid design, anew generation anti-debris filter and an increased mass of uranium.

Its introduction has also enabled elongation of the fuel cycle of the reactors from 12 to 18 months, so the power units are being stopped less frequently for fuel reload and generate more electricity.