Power generation in Koodankulam Unit One to resume in Jan:AEC Chmn.

18 December, Chennai

Atomic Energy Commission Chairman(AEC) Sekhar Basu today said power generation in the first unit of Koodankulam unit will resume in January next year as the repair work to set right the turbine had been carried out.

Talking to reporters at the airport on his arrival from Mumba, Basu, who is here to attend a meeting at Koodankulam, said work was on at full swing in the second unit and it would go on stream to generate power from May with the work would be completed by April.

Answering a question about the quantity of nuclear power Tamil Nadu would get, he said 50 per cent of the 6,000 MW to be generated will be retained by the State as per the agreement signed. However, it would take seven to eight years for the plant to reach full capacity.

The state would get the earmerked 3000 MW of power from then on. Basu, meanwhile, also allayed fears about any danger or harm to the people from the Koodankulam nuclear power plants,saying every precautionary measure to prevent any danger like radiation had been taken.