The reactor vessel has been installed in design position at Kudankulam NPP Unit 3 (Republic of India, general designer and general contractor is Rosatom State Corporation Engineering Division).

The assembly of the reactor vessel is a milestone, which launches further activities for the assembly of the reactor plant equipment allowing to speed up the construction of Unit 3 within the framework of the second stage of Kudankulam NPP.

The Indian customer, for the first time during the assembly of VVER-type units, assembled the reactor vessel by the Open Topmethod. This technology makes it possible to significantly reduce the time period of the project implementation due to optimization and reduction of the duration and number of assembly operations.

Certification of caterpillar crane LIEBHERR LR-11350 with the capacity of 1130 tons was successfully performed within the framework of preparation for the installation of the reactor vessel.  The certification was necessary for ensuring the safety of operations as the total weight of the reactor vessel is 327 tons.  This procedure is the final stage for receipt of the permit of the official bodies of India regulating the performance of assembly of the NPP main equipment.

Eariler, ASE JSC (part of Rosatom State Corporation Engineering Division) had shipped the reactor to the construction site in accordance with its obligations.


Information about Kudankulam NPP Project

Power units No 3,4 and 5,6 are the second and the third stages of Kudankulam NPP constructed under AES-92 design with VVER-1000 (V-412) reactor type. The technical solutions implemented in Kudankulam design characterize further evolutionary development of VVER-reactor NPPs of high power and transition to creation of a new, reliable, safe and feasible power unit.

New power units of Kudankulam NPP comply with the most up-to-date safety requirements of IAEA.

The developer - the technical customer of the facility - is Nuclear Power Corporation of India. The general designer and supplier of equipment is JSC ASE.

Currently, power units No. 1, 2 of Kudandulam NPP are operating at the capacity established by the operation schedule.


For Reference

Rosatom State Corporation Engineering Division unites the leading companies of the nuclear industry, namely: Atomstroyexport JSC (Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod, branches in Russia and abroad), Joint Design Institute - Atomenergoproekt JSC (Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod, St. Petersburg branches - design institutes, branches in Russia and abroad, R&D branches) and subsidiary construction organizations.

The Engineering Division ranks first in the world by the order portfolio and the number of NPPs constructed simultaneously across the world.

About 80% of the Divisions revenues originate from foreign projects.

The Engineering Division implements construction projects for high-power NPPs in Russia and across the world, renders a full range of EPC, EP, and EPC(M) services including project management and design activities, and develops Multi-D technologies for the management of complex engineering facilities. The Division relies on the achievements of the Russian nuclear industry and innovative state-of-the-art technologies.

We construct reliable and safe NPPs with Gen III+ VVER reactors that are in line with all international requirements and recommendations.

Source: Communications Division Rosatom State Corporation Engineering Division
Reactor vessel installed at Kudankulam NPP Unit 3
Reactor vessel installed at Kudankulam NPP Unit 3