On 16 June 2026 NPCIL installed the Reactor Pressure Vessel (RPV) inside the reactor building of Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project Unit‑5 in Tamil Nadu.
Unit‑5 — technical status
- RPV installed: RPV of approximately 320 tonnes placed inside the reactor building using specialised heavy‑lift cranes and the “Open Top” method.
- NSSS erection: RPV installation commences erection of the Nuclear Steam Supply System (NSSS) equipment for Unit‑5.
- RPV function: The RPV houses the reactor core; it contains the primary coolant and the fuel where controlled fission produces heat.
- Reactor rating: Unit‑5 is a 1,000 MWe pressurised water reactor (PWR) design.
Regulatory clearance & timeline
- MEE clearance: Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) granted Major Equipment Erection clearance for Units‑5 and 6 in May 2026.
- Commercial operation target: Unit‑5 scheduled for commercial operation by end‑2026 (project timeline).
Supply chain & project partners
- Manufacture: RPV fabricated at Atommash, Volgodonsk (Russia) and delivered to Kudankulam in 2025.
- Designer/contractor: Atomstroyexport / Rosatom State Corporation serve as the project general designer and contractor.
Plant capacity & sequencing
- Site capacity: Kudankulam planned for six units of 1,000 MWe each; total installed capacity 6,000 MWe on completion.
- Unit order: Units‑5 and 6 follow four operational 1,000 MWe units already commissioned at the site.
IASPOINT Booster Facts
- NPCIL: Government‑owned enterprise responsible for construction and operation of nuclear power stations in India.
- AERB clearance types: MEE is a pre‑commissioning clearance specific to erection of major nuclear equipment.
- NSSS components: Core elements include RPV, steam generators, reactor coolant pumps and primary circuit piping.