Contract for new Kudankulam units unlikely to be signed during PM visit

NEW DELHI: The contract for construction of two more reactors of Russian design at Kudankulam is unlikely to be signed during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Moscow starting tomorrow though negotiations are at an "advanced" stage.

Singh is embarking on a three-day visit to the Russian Capital tomorrow to attend the 12th annual Indo-Russian Summit on Friday during which the two countries are expected to sign seven to nine agreements to expand cooperation in the fields of trade, defence and energy.

Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai while briefing newsmen about Singh's visit discounted suggestions that protests by locals and environmentalists against the commissioning of the first and second reactors at Kudankulam in Turicorin district in Tamil Nadu were holding up the signing of the new deal.

"Not right," he said when asked whether the protests were behind the delay in signing of the contract between Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) and Atomstroyexport. The contract was widely expected to be signed during Singh's visit.

Mathai however said negotiations in this regard were at an advanced staged but declined to set a time frame for finalising the contract.

"Kudankulam(negotiations) are at an advanced stage. There are good prospects of taking it forward soon," he said.

Mathai also said India was "open" for discussions to address concerns of countries over its civil liability rules for nuclear damages.

The Foreign Secretary outlined India's stand when asked to comment on Russia's opposition to make the nuclear liability rules applicable to the first two reactors at Kudankulam and also for the planned third and fourth reactors. The commissioning of the first two reactors have been stalled following the protests.

Singh will have a restricted meeting with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev before holding delegation-level talks at the Kremlin on Friday.