Current Affairs- FAQ on Kudankulam issue- Part 11

5.37) Russian and Indian liability issues:

Not addressed.

5.38) Project Cost and Russian Debt Analysis:

      On a query to NPCIL, they have given the following information

     

      “The sanctioned cost of the KKNPP 1&2, is Rs 13,171 crores including interest during construction. About half of the cost is financed by the credit facility extended from the Russian Federation. As per the agreement, the credit is to be utilised during the construction of the plant and is to be repaid in 14 annual installments, after commissioning of the plant.

     

      The set back in project completion schedule has resulted in revision of the cost estimates , mainly due to increase in the interest on borrowings, establishment cost and escalation on  the cost of balance works. The revision of cost estimates is in process”.

5.39) Generation and Transmission

      The transmission system was finalised taking into considerations the various requirements i.e reliability and security levels as stipulated in the “Transmission Planning criteria”  document issued by Ministry of Power Government of India, New Delhi.

     

2000MW(e) electrical power generated from KKNPP Unit#1 and Unit#2 is exported through the 400KVpower transmission lines.

      The power generated from KKNPP is exported to Tirunelveli through the four 400KV transmission lines. KKNPP station loads normally derive power from the four 400KV power supplies.

5.40) CAPACITY FACTOR MONITORING

      Capacity factor is monitored by NPCIL.

5.41) Spent Fuel Transportation

      This is covered at 5.16) above.

5.42) Decommissioning   

     

      The objective of decommissioning is to release the NPP site for reuse or for unrestricted use, depending on the requirement, ensuring safety of members of the public and occupational workers as well as protection of the environment. Provisions for facilitating decommissioning in KKNPP‐1&2 have been made in the design.

      Decommissioning strategy consists of de‐fuelling of reactor and removal of all radioactive fluids from the systems, at the end of its operating life. The SSCs are then kept in a safe storage mode for a period of time to allow for natural decay of radioactivity for ease of dismantling of components and their packaging and transportation for disposal. The necessary machinery, components, structures and the building are left intact for such safe keeping. Some of the conventional SSCs may be dismantled at this stage.

     

      The cost of decommissioning of NPPs in India has been worked out through a detailed exercise. The estimates indicate that decommissioning cost can be met by a decommissioning levy of 2 paise per KWh to be charged along with tariff to create a corpus to be used at the time of decommissioning. The levy will be reviewed periodically  to ascertain its adequacy to meet the decommissioning fund requirements and may be  revised if necessary.

     

      In this context, it may be noted that some of the Indian NPPs have undergone significant renovation and modernization activities. These included replacement of components like pressure tubes end fittings, feeder pipes etc. This experience has demonstrated that technology for such dismantlement activities that are similar to decommissioning, is available in the country. The experience also shows that costs involved are within the estimated values. The radioactive waste arising from decommissioning is not significantly different than the waste generated from normal operation of the NPP, except that its volume will be comparatively large. In India we have good experience in handling and disposal of such waste and therefore no difficulty is foreseen for handling and disposal of waste arising from decommissioning work.

5.43) Impact of increased sea patrol and militarization of the area:

     

      Sea Patrol and militarization of the area is governed by the requirements of National Security. KKNPP is also covered in these requirements.

5.44) Erosion of civil liberties

      Only the Plant area is a restricted area. Other than this area, movement and actions of the people are governed by the Laws of Land.

5.45) Noise Pollution

     

1. Base line data collection: M/s Engineers India Limited (EIL) has measured the noise   levels at the following places for preparing a rapid Environmental Impact Assessment

(EIA) for Kudankulam Nuclear units.

2. Standards: The standards prescribed as per the noise pollution rules 2000 are as

follows. Ambient Air Quality Standards in respect of Noise

Area Code	Category of Area/Zone	Limits in dB(A) Leq *
		Day Time	Night Time
(A)	Industrial area	75	70
(B)	Commercial area	65	55
(C)	Residential area	55	45
(D)	Silence Zone	50	40

  

      Note:‐

      1.   Day time shall mean from 6.00 a.m. to 10.00 p.m.

      2.   Night time shall mean from 10.00 p.m. to 6.00 a.m.

      3.   Silence zone is defined as an area comprising not less than 100 metres around        hospitals, educational institutions and courts. The silence zones are zones which are declared as such by the competent authority.

      4.   Mixed categories of areas may be declared as one of the four above mentionedcategories by the competent authority.

     

*dB(A) Leq denotes the time weighted average of the level of sound in decibels on scale A which is relatable to human hearing.

      A "decibel" is a unit in which noise is measured.

     

      "A", in dB(A) Leq, denotes the frequency weighting in the measurement of noise and      corresponds to frequency response characteristics of the human ear. Leq : It is an energy mean of the noise level, over a specified period.

3. Impacts due to Noise pollution:

      3.1 Construction phase: During construction phase the noise levels are minimal and there is no impact to the outside areas.

     

      3.2 Commissioning Phase: Nuclear Power Plants are relatively silent operators.

      However, during Hot Run test, the steam is vented to atmosphere through relief   valve. Testing and Venting of steam relief valves are occasional operations.

      3.3 Operation phase: During operation of the plant, there is no equipment, which will produce sound above the prescribed limits during continuous operation.

5.46) KKNPP Expansion Plans

      In principle approval for establishment of KK‐3 to 6 exists from Govt of India.

5.47) IAEA Safeguards

      Government of India has entered into an agreement with International Atomic Energy Agency for the application of Safeguards for the nuclear fuel to be supplied for KKNPP by the Russian Federation. The agreement entered into force on 27th September 1988 and follows the guideline available in . ‘INFCIRC/360’ available on IAEA website. We have long experience in implementation of safeguards on nuclear fuel in some of our NPPs and the procedures to be  followed at KKNPP will be o different. Hence there are no problems in implementation of IAEA safeguards for the nuclear fuel in KKNPP.

5.48) NSG related issues

      Not addressed

5.49) Setting up of possible weapon facility at KKNPP

      Not addressed

5.50) any other related issues

      Nil

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