The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) clarified that there has been no compromise of sensitive information at the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KKNPP). The disclosed data, available in the public domain, pertains solely to conventional infrastructure and is unrelated to nuclear safety or security systems.
NPCIL, through its Executive Director (Corporate Communications) Prateek Agarwal, stated that the engineering, procurement, and construction contract for the project’s common service facilities, known as the Balance of Plant package, was awarded to Reliance Infrastructure Limited via a public tender process. The contract encompasses the conventional engineering, procurement, construction, and commissioning of common service facilities commonly found in thermal power plants and other industries.
Emphasizing that these systems are distinct from nuclear safety or security, NPCIL highlighted that as part of the tendering process, indicative drawings and technical specifications were provided to bidders. Reliance Infrastructure, in alignment with project requirements, developed detailed engineering drawings in consultation with original equipment manufacturers, which were reviewed and accepted by NPCIL to ensure compliance with technical specifications.
Reports of unauthorized access to engineering-related project files associated with the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project following a cyber incident involving a contractor prompted NPCIL to reiterate that the accessed documents only concern conventional Balance of Plant facilities and not reactor operations, nuclear safety systems, or sensitive security infrastructure. Reliance Infrastructure had secured the infrastructure contract for Kudankulam Units 3 and 4 in 2018, currently in the construction phase.
Investigations into the cyber incident are underway by NPCIL and the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In). Kudankulam presently houses two 1,000 MW Russian-designed VVER reactors, with four additional units in progress. Upon completion, the project is anticipated to emerge as India’s largest nuclear power park, boasting a total installed capacity of 6,000 MW.
