India, Russia ink pact to build two nuclear reactors in Tamil Nadu

NEW DELHI: India and Russia today signed an agreement paving the way for building the third and fourth reactors at the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant in Tamil Nadu, besides finalising a vision document for long-term cooperation in the atomic energy sector.

The pact was signed between Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) and Russia's Atomstroyexport after Summit talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The accord will operationlise the General Framework Agreement (GFA) signed in April this year between the two sides for construction of units 3 and 4 at Kudankulam.

The cost of the two units is likely to be around Rs 40,000 crore and they will generate a total of 2,000 MWs of power.

A separate agreement was also signed between (NPCIL) and Atomstroyexport for unit 3 and 4 of Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant for supply of some major equipment by the Russian company.

"I am pleased that the first unit of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant is on stream. It has added 20 per cent to the existing capacity for nuclear power in India. We are on course for installing the next three units of 1000 MW each," Modi said at joint media interaction with Putin.

Aiming to enhance cooperation in the nuclear sector, both the countries also came out with a 'Strategic Vision for Strengthening Cooperation in Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy' under which Russia will build at least 12 reactors in India by 2035.

The document said Indian side agreed to expeditiously identify a second site, in addition to Kudankulam, for the construction of the Russian-designed nuclear power units in India.

It welcomed signing of the contract for delivery of equipment from Russia for implementation of projects--units 3 and 4 at Kudankulum.

It enlisted cooperation in research and development of innovative nuclear power plants, and localization of manufacturing of equipment and fuel assemblies in India as the goal of future collaboration.

The two sides decided to fast-track implementation of agreed cooperation projects for Nuclear Power Plants. Both sides will strive to complete the construction and commissioning of not less than 12 units in the next two decades, in accordance with the Agreement of 2008.