Russia begins construction of fifth unit of Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant

Russian nuclear major Rosatom on Tuesday began construction of Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) Unit 5 in India in what would further expand the strategic partnership between New Delhi and Moscow. Russia has been a close partner for India in the civil nuclear energy sector.

The concrete pouring commemorated the official commencement of the main stage of the nuclear power plant stage 3 construction. Due to anti-epidemiological restrictions, the ceremony was held via videoconference, according to Russian government statement.

First concrete pouring was preceded by continuous preliminary work: concrete bedding for foundations of the reactor building, auxiliary reactor building with the Main Control Room, turbine building and power supply building for normal operation, emergency power supply and safety control systems, the statement added.


“For many years the Kudankulam NPP construction project has been a symbol of close cooperation between Russia and India. However, we do not want to stop at what had already been achieved. Rosatom has all the most advanced nuclear power technologies. Together with our Indian colleagues we are ready to launch the serial construction of the state-of-the-art Generation III+ Russian-designed nuclear power units at a new site in India. It is stipulated by the existing agreements,” Rosatom Director General Alexey Likhachev stated during the ceremony.

Russian Ambassador to India Nikolay Kudashev noted, “The first pour of concrete at the construction site of the 5th nuclear reactor of Kudankulam NPP, happened today, is one of the significant moments in the Russian-Indian nuclear energy cooperation. It demonstrates our firm devotion to achieve success in all bilateral undertakings.”

Russian enterprises are already manufacturing equipment required for the first priority installation, the equipment for the reactor facilities and turbine hall for Unit 5, statement informed.

After signing the General Framework Agreement (GFA) on April 10, 2014, on the construction of Units 3, 4, the negotiations with the Indian party began regarding the construction of Kudankulam NPP Units 5, 6, upon the results of which the agreement was reached that these Units would be constructed in compliance with the same design as it was stipulated for Units 3, 4. On June 01, 2017, the Credit Protocol to the Intergovernmental Agreement of December 05, 2008, and the GFA for Kudankulam NPP Units 5, 6 were signed.