Efforts are on to make the first reactor at Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant operational soon. Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Srikumar Banerjee said in Chennai today that the pressure cap vessel will be opened in the coming days and inspection done by robotic mechanism. Then, permission will be sought to take out dummy fuel and put actual fuel. Subsequently, it will get the nod to approach to criticality. Banerjee said the target is not just one. The second reactor will also come by six months and the distribution depends on various technical factors.

He said the power requirement in Tamil Nadu and neighbouring states is very high. So it is extremelty important to bring Kudankulam into operation.

Responding to a query on Kalpakkam nuclear power plant, he said the 500 MW plant and Fast Breeder Reactor will be completely a new and sophisticated technology. He said the mechanical construction will be over by this year and the fuel-loading part by mid-next year. He said they are going slow as maximum importance is given for safety.