Kudankulam Nuclear Plant starts using more advanced nuclear fuel from Russia

22 Dec 2022 , 07:16 AM

The Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP) in Tamil Nadu has received a more modern fuel choice from Russia, Union Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office Jitendra Singh stated in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.

In a written response to a query, Singh stated that the first batch of TVS-2M fuel assemblies were loaded into Unit-1 in May or June 2022 after being delivered from the Russian Federation. He claimed that their performance is satisfactory.

The minister claimed that the switch in fuel wouldn’t have any further negative effects on the environment.

According to him, the TVS-2M fuel assemblies used in KKNPP reactors will enable 18-month operating cycles as opposed to the 12-month operating cycles currently possible with UTVS Fuel Assemblies in Unit-II.

The minister claimed that Russia had offered to replace the UTVS type fuel in the reactors at Unit I and II at Kudankulam with a more modern fuel, the TVS-2M type.

He claimed that following thorough consideration among specialists, it was decided to use TVS-2M fuel in place of UTVS fuel assemblies in Kudankulam Units I and II due to its superior operational performance.