Kudankulam ‘data breach’ not connected to nuclear activity at plant, says govt.
S&T – ENERGY
17 JULY 2026
- Union Minister of State for Atomic Energy Jitendra Singh downplayed concerns regarding the data breach involving electronic files linked to the Kudankulam nuclear power plant in Tamil Nadu.
- “This [the breach] has nothing to do with the nuclear plant or nuclear security,” he told on the sidelines of a press conference. “There’s no need for any immediate review because what has happened is not linked to nuclear activity.”
- Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd. (NPCIL) — the plant operator — said in a statement that the drawings and technical documents reportedly leaked relate only to the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract for the Common Services–Balance of Plant (BoP) package of Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KKNPP) Units 3 and 4, which was awarded to Anil Ambani’ Reliance Infrastructure Ltd. through a public tender in 2018.
- After commissioning two 1,000 Mwe VVER reactors, the KKNPP is constructing four more similar units with Russian technical know-how at Kudankulam, which is all set to house India’s biggest nuclear park with reactors generating 6,000 MW nuclear power.
- According to a Reuters report, over 19,000 highly sensitive files dating between 2016 and mid-2025 and linked to KKNPP’s engineering blueprints on control, cooling. and ventilation systems, list of vendors and suppliers supplying equipment, operational files on meeting records, reviews of joint inspection by the Indian and Russian engineers, insurance policies, etc., had been accessed by well-known ransomware group World Leaks.
- The leak reportedly originated from a server hosted by third party provider, Yotta, belonging to the plant’s contractor Anil Ambani’s Reliance Group.
Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project
- The Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project is India’s largest nuclear power station, featuring VVER-1000 reactors and located in Tamil Nadu.
- It is built in cooperation with Russia with a total planned capacity of 6,000 MW.
- Unit 1 & 2 (2,000 MW): Fully operational, generating power for the southern grid since 2014 and 2016.
- Unit 3 & 4 (2,000 MW): Under construction, slated for commissioning beginning in late 2026.
- Unit 5 & 6 (2,000 MW): Under active construction, with commissioning expected through 2027.
- Owners: Operated by the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL).
- Technology: Uses Russian-designed VVER-1000 pressurized water reactors supplied via Russian collaboration (Atomstroyexport / Rosatom).
- VVER is a Russian abbreviation for “water-cooled water-moderated energy reactor”.
- Infrastructure Contractors: Includes engineering work by firms such as Reliance Infrastructure for auxiliary construction components
