The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited has completed installation of the 320-tonne reactor pressure vessel at Unit-5 of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project in Tamil Nadu, marking a significant construction milestone in the India-Russia nuclear partnership.
The reactor pressure vessel, which houses the reactor core where nuclear fission takes place, was installed using advanced heavy-lift cranes following strict safety and quality protocols.
The installation follows clearance from the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board granted in May for major equipment erection at Units 5 and 6.
The milestone signifies the beginning of Nuclear Steam Supply System equipment installation and reflects close coordination between NPCIL and Russia's Atomstroyexport in executing the project.
The reactor vessel was manufactured at Russia's Atommash plant in Volgodonsk and delivered to the site in 2025.
The Kudankulam site comprises six units, each with 1,000 MWe capacity. Units 1 and 2 are already operational and have generated approximately 130 billion units of electricity as of May 2026, averting the release of about 112 million tonnes of carbon dioxide into the environment.
Units 3 and 4 are at an advanced stage of construction, whilst Units 5 and 6 are progressing through different construction phases.
The Kudankulam project remains one of India's most important clean energy initiatives, with the site steadily moving towards its full potential of 6,000 MWe installed capacity.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has previously described Russia as India's foremost partner in civil nuclear energy, calling Kudankulam a stellar example of bilateral cooperation.
India aims to increase its nuclear power generation capacity to 100 gigawatts by 2047, with Kudankulam expected to play a major role in achieving that target.
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