Kudankulam nuclear project takes Modi-Putin bonding to a new high

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi showed his appreciation for Russian President Valdimir Putin when the two leaders met via videoconferencing while dedicating unit-I of the Kudankulam nuclear project, India’s first nuclear power plant built by a foreign partner.

The strategic partnership between India and Russia, “showcases your personal commitment, consistent support and strong leadership in transforming the substance and character of our relationship… personally, I have always deeply valued our friendship,” Modi said from New Delhi.

Speaking on the occasion from Moscow, Putin said, “cooperation in the field of nuclear energy is one of the most important components of special and privileged strategic partnership between Russia and India… The development of such a fast-growing and enormous economy like India is not possible without the nuclear energy.

We have huge plans with Indian friends in this area. The work at the unit 3 and 4 have commenced in February, 2016. We also hope to sign this year the general framework agreement for setting up of unit 5 and 6 of Kudankulam NPP by the end of this year.”

Each of these five additional nuclear power units will be 1000 MW each. The dedication was done through video-conferencing between Modi, Putin and Jayalalithaa.

“It is perhaps not commonly known that at 1000 MW Kundankulam 1 is the largest single unit of electrical power in India… At Kudankulam alone, five more units of 1000 MW each are planned. In our journey of cooperation, we plan to build a series of bigger nuclear power units,” the PM said.

The dedication comes ahead of Putin’s visit to India in October, where he will also attend the BRICS summit in Goa.