Chennai, Feb 20 (TIWN): The Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KNPP) has always been embroiled in controversy and several social and political struggles have taken place in the power plant which finally commenced generating power into the Southern Grid from October 22, 2013. The plant, which has an installed capacity of 6000 MW from its 6 units now has two units under operation generating 2000 MW.

Russian state company Atomstroyexport has joined hands with the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) for the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project. The construction of Units 3 and 4 was commissioned in 2016 and will start generating power from 2023. This would add up to 2000 MW more power into the grid.

Recently a controversy erupted in Tirunelveli district and adjacent areas of the plant after NPCIL floated tenders for the construction of an Away from Reactor (AFR) for the storage of Spent Nuclear Fuel (SNF). With the proposed facility planned to be situated near the power plant, activists and environmentalists have raised concerns, citing a possible threat to the local population.

The issue gained prominence after Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin aired his opposition to the project and flagged a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressing the concerns of the people of Tamil Nadu over installing the AFR there.