Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited successfully installed the Reactor Pressure Vessel at Unit-5 of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project in Tamil Nadu

Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited successfully installed the Reactor Pressure Vessel at Unit-5 of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project in Tamil Nadu

¨     Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) successfully installed the Reactor Pressure Vessel (RPV) at Unit-5 of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KKNPP) in Tamil Nadu.

¨     The 320-tonne Reactor Pressure Vessel was installed after receiving Major Equipment Erection (MEE) clearance from the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) on 2 May 2026.

¨     The Reactor Pressure Vessel (RPV) is the main pressure boundary of a nuclear reactor.

¨     It houses the reactor core, where controlled nuclear fission takes place.

¨     In Pressurised Water Reactors (PWRs), the RPV also supports the reactor internals and coolant circulation system.

¨     The Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project is located in Tirunelveli district, Tamil Nadu.

¨     The project consists of six nuclear power units, each with a capacity of 1,000 MW.

¨     It uses Russian-designed VVER-1000 reactor technology.

¨     VVER stands for Water-Water Energetic Reactor, a type of Pressurised Water Reactor (PWR).

¨     The reactor vessel was installed using the Open-top Installation Method.

¨  In this method, heavy equipment is lowered into the reactor building before the containment dome is constructed.

¨  The open-top method is preferred for installing large and heavy nuclear components, ensuring high precision and safe alignment.