Nuclear ties with Russia top priority for PM Narendra Modi

NEW DELHI: Expanding civil nuclear cooperation will be a key aspect of Narendra Modi’s forthcoming visit to Russia in December for the annual summit and the agenda is expected to focus on finalising documents for fifth and sixth units at the Kudankulam nuclear power plant besides possible allotment of second site for nuclear power station built in India with Moscow’s assistance.

While Modi visited Russia for the BRICS Summit in Ufa last July, this is his maiden visit as PM for the annual summit — a format for dialogue at the highest level set up when Atal Bihari Vajpayee led the government. Besides expanding defence partnership and exploring new areas of economic and investment proposals, strengthening civil nuclear cooperation is expected to figure prominently at the summit, officials indicated.

The Units I at Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant in Tamil Nadu have started producing electricity. Unit II will also be operationalised soon. Almost all documents on the third and fourth blocks have been signed and work for setting up the units is in process, officials informed.