The Agreement for the Koodankulam Project between the Governments of India and the then Soviet Union was signed by Rajiv Gandhi and Michael Gorbachev twenty years ago , on November 20, 1988. For the next ten years the project was in limbo. There wee suggestions that the project itself might be shelved. Doubts were raised if the agreement met with the conditions of the NSG. Russia said that the NSG guidelines came into effect in 1992, whereas this agreement was signed in 1988 itself!

It was in late 90's and the beginning of 2k that work resumed in full vigour in that sleepy deserted village near Tirunelveli. In March 2002, construction work started. Now, there is plenty of electrifying activity in Koodankulam.

On Sunday last, the first consignment of enriched uranium fuel for Project arrived from the Russian Federation. This formed part of the supply for the first unit of the project. The Russians will supply the entire fuel needed for the two reactors of the project. The fuel loading into the first unit will start in November-December this year. Very soon thereafter, the first reactor is likely to be commissioned.

Two Russian reactors, VVER-1000, each capable of generating 1,000 MWe. are being built Enriched Uranium will be used as fuel. The design and all the equipment for the two reactors is being supplied by Russia, which will supply enriched uranium for the reactors for their lifetime. NPCIL is building the units. The agreement for the construction of four more Russian reactors was initialed in February this year.

Now that the ready-to-use uranium has arrived, power will soon start surging from the Southern village

The power generated by the Koodankulam Plant will not only help Tamil Nadu and neighbouring States to tide over power shortage, but help industrial growth as well. .