Rising sea level may inundate Indian nuclear plants

An anticipated rise in sea level is likely to affect the Madras Atomic Power Station in Kalapakkam.  It may also affect a plant under construction in Kudankulam in Tamil Nadu, India.

According to a Centre for Development Finance study, both plants are at risk of being affected by a 1m sea level rise as early as 2050 due to climate change.

A 1m rise in average sea level will permanently inundate about 1,091m² along the Tamil Nadu coast, and the total area at risk will be nearly six times as much as it is now, as per the report.

CDF told Indo-Asian News Service that these nuclear power stations and associated infrastructure are located just beyond the zone estimated to be directly at risk from storm surges from a 1m SLR.

The Madras Atomic Power Station 1&2 reactors are at elevations of 5-10m above current mean sea level, while the Kudankulam nuclear power plant is even higher.

However, both are close to the shoreline and may be affected because of the risk associated with coastal erosion.