The first 1,000 MW unit of the Kudankulam nuclear plant now has a start date for commercial operations, Indian media reports.
The Hindu reported Sunday that the start date for commercial operations is January 22, 2015.
The final delay was set to resolve technical problems with a turbine, and to that the Nuclear Power Corporation added another month for “eventualities” scheduling some wiggle-room for unforeseen issues. That advanced the start date up one month from December 22, 2014, the Hindu said.
India's Central Electricity Regulatory Commission issued a directive for a full infirm power load test of the first unit.
The company had allowed for seven to eight weeks for replacement of first and second stage turbine blades at Unit 1.
“While raising power, an increase in turbine thrust bearing temperature was observed and the temperature touched operational limit on reaching power level of 850 MW. For attending to the technical problem, Turbine-Generator was taken off the bar and reactor was shut down on September 26, 2014”, the company said.
Turbine manufacturing specialists from Russia are assisting with dismantling of the turbine's high pressure casing in order to inspect the turbine.