The Economic Times Reported on 3 May 2026 that AERB Cleared Major Equipment Erection for Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project Units 5 and 6 after Multi-Tier Safety Review

The Economic Times reported on 3 May 2026 that the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board had granted permission for major equipment erection at Units 5 and 6 of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project. The report cited Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited and described the development as a key milestone in India's nuclear energy programme. The approval allows NPCIL to begin installation of critical components, including the reactor pressure vessel, steam generators and coolant pumps, bringing the two units closer to completion.

The regulatory clearance followed a comprehensive multi-tier safety review by AERB. Officials said the assessment covered reactor design, construction progress and compliance with national regulations as well as global benchmarks, including standards of the International Atomic Energy Agency. The regulator issued the permission on 30 April after reviewing safety requirements and civil construction progress under the earlier approval granted in April 2021 for the First Pour of Concrete stage. The upcoming units are to incorporate advanced safety features in line with AERB's safety code for light-water-reactor-based nuclear power plants.

Located in Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu, Kudankulam comprises six pressurised water reactors of VVER design being developed in technical collaboration with Russia. Each unit has a capacity of 1,000 MW. Units 1 and 2 have been operational since 2013 and 2015, while Units 3 and 4 are at an advanced stage of construction. Once all six units are completed, the plant will have total installed capacity of 6,000 MW. The report also linked the project to India's aim of increasing nuclear energy generation capacity to 100 gigawatt by 2047 and noted Russia's role as a major civil nuclear partner.