MOSCOW. July 21 (Interfax) - Indian regulators have shut down the N1 power block of the Kudankulam nuclear power plant for tests of a number of systems, OJSC Atomstroyexport management company OJSC NIAEP said in a statement.
The full range of power testing has been completed at N1, including at 100% of capacity, after which the unit was shut down under normal procedures.
The duration of the shutdown period was not disclosed.
The first block at the Kudankulam station was synchronized with the grid on October 22, 2013 and the reactor first attained criticality on July 13, 2013. It had attained 50% of design output by the end of the year and 75% in April 2014. In May, India's Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority cleared nuclear energy corporation NPCIL to increase output to 90%. The block subsequently achieved 100% of capacity in early June.
Construction of the second power block is nearing completion. Startup is scheduled in March 2015, according to NPCIL information.