Overview
- NPCIL reported that the Reactor Pressure Vessel for Kudankulam Unit‑5 was erected inside the reactor building using specialised heavy‑lift cranes; the vessel weighs about 320 tonnes and houses the reactor core.
- The work followed Atomic Energy Regulatory Board clearance for major equipment erection at Units 5 and 6, a regulatory step that enabled installation of key nuclear‑island components.
- NPCIL says the milestone begins installation of the Nuclear Steam Supply System and projects Unit‑5 could become operational toward the end of 2026, a timeline that depends on commissioning tests and final regulator sign‑offs.
- Kudankulam remains a multi‑phase build: Units 1 and 2 are generating power and have produced about 130 billion units of electricity, Units 3–4 are at advanced construction stages, and Unit‑6 is under construction.
- The project is a collaboration with Russia’s Atomstroyexport and is part of India’s plan to expand nuclear capacity; when all six 1,000 MW units are complete the site will add 6,000 MW and help lower carbon emissions from the grid.