Kudankulam-1 delayed due to 4 faulty valves

The commissioning of the Kudankulam atomic power plant has been delayed as the nuclear regulator had found four valves to be “deficient” during a series of tests ahead of starting the reactor.

The commissioning of the Kudankulam atomic power plant has been delayed as India's nuclear regulator Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) had found four valves to be "deficient" during a series of tests ahead of starting the reactor.

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"During testing of thousands of valves installed in the plant, the performances of four valves of a particular type were found deficient," the nuclear regulator said in a statement here on Friday evening.

It, however, did not specify the exact nature of the deficiency in the valves at the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant's Unit-1 being built with Russian help.

The Nuclear Power Corp-oration of India is replacing the valve components as a corrective measure and their performance will also be reviewed by the regulatory officials.

"Subsequent clearances will be granted by AERB only after a satisfactory review," it said.