Rosatom Delivers First Fuel for Kudankulam's Third Reactor Ahead of Putin Visit
Rosatom Delivers First Fuel for Kudankulam's Third Reactor Ahead of Putin Visit
First consignment of nuclear fuel for Kudankulam's third reactor arrives, part of a seven-flight plan to load the core during Putin's India visit.
In Tamil Nadu, Russia's Rosatom marked a milestone at the Kudankulam nuclear power plant with the delivery of the first consignment of nuclear fuel for the initial loading of the third VVER-1000 reactor. The shipments are part of a contract signed in 2024 to support the third and fourth reactors for their entire service life, with seven flights planned to supply the core and some reserve fuel. The fuel assemblies were produced by the Novosibirsk Chemical Concentrates Plant, and the operation signals a continued push to expand the plant’s role in India’s energy mix.
Since 2022, Kudankulam has been operated with TVS-2M fuel, a newer design noted for its rigidity and improved performance, including an anti-debris filter and increased uranium mass. This upgrade has helped extend the fuel cycle and improve efficiency in the plant’s early phases, contributing to more reliable power generation.
Kudankulam currently houses two reactors that were connected to India’s grid in 2013 and 2016, with four additional units under construction. The ongoing launch sequence for the third and fourth reactors aims to bolster electricity supply for the southern region and bolster India’s broader energy security.
The timing of the fuel delivery, coinciding with President Vladimir Putin’s arrival in New Delhi for a bilateral summit, underscores the long-standing energy partnership between the two countries and the importance placed on Kudankulam within that relationship. Rosatom’s involvement continues to position Kudankulam as a centerpiece of India’s expanding nuclear power capacity, with the plant ultimately designed for six VVER-1000 reactors totaling about 6,000 megawatts.
Cover image source: Rosatom sends initial fuel load for Kudankulam’s third reactor as Putin arrives in Delhi 🔗
