The first unit of Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant, which attained criticality on July 3 will reach its maximum capacity of 1000 MWe by November end, according to S Sundar, project site director.

"All parameters are working along expected lines. We expect Atomic Energy Regulatory Board will soon give its nod for the next level operations.The first reactor will reach its maximum capacity of 1,000 MWe by November end," he said at a function organised here yesteday by Indian Red Cross society.

He said all 163 dummy fuel assemblies had been filled in the second reactor. It would undergo a hot run in the next 90 days as the integrated leak grade test had been conducted in the reactor containment.

Sundar said cost escalation of KNPP from Rs 13,171 crore to Rs 17,200 crore would reflect in the unit cost of power and be between Rs three and Rs 3.50. Morever, around 30 per cent of components to be used in the third and fourth reactors would be fabricated for Nuclear Power Corporation of India, he said.