Fuel loading at first Kudankulam reactor complete: Report

The fuel loading in the first reactor at Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KNPP) reportedly completed on Tuesday even as protests and demonstrations intensified against the plant.

"Fuel rods have been loaded. This will be followed by several procedures before the atomic energy regulator (Atomic Energy Regulatory Board) gives its sanction to close the reactor vessel," an official told IANS on the condition of anonymity.

An industry official also confirmed that AERB has to give its sanction to close the reactor vessel before the process towards reactor attaining criticality could be started.

The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) is yet to divulge details on the fuel loading.

People's Movement Against Nuclear Energy (PMANE) coordinator SP Udayakumar however told another leading daily that the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) and the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) are misleading the people on the issue of fuel loading.

"We do not know who is telling the truth and who is not. There is a purposeful and deliberate attempt to misinform and mislead the country. The DAE and the NPCIL authorities are lying," he said.

PMANE has vowed that it would continue the protest until the nuclear plant at Kudankulam was shut down. Church groups, activists and NGOs are backing the protest against the plant.

The Supreme Court last week said that it will not hesitate in stopping the work at Kudankulam nuclear power plant if it finds that safety measures at the plant are unsatisfactory.

The court made the observations while hearing an appeal against the Madras High Court order that allowed fuel loading at the plant.

"We will not hesitate to stop the plant if we find that the mandatory safety requirements have not been taken care of at the site," said the bench while posting the case for further hearing on October 4.

The first unit of KNPP was scheduled to be commissioned last December but had been delayed by the protests by locals on safety concerns. Concerns were expressed that radioactivity will impact the ecology and affect the livelihood of fisherfolk.