Russia to help build 10 new nuke plants

For bright future: Moscow agrees to construct two new units at Kudankulam

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday drew a roadmap for future cooperation in civil nuclear energy sector.

The plan not only envisages construction of at least 10 more atomic power plants in India with reactors designed in Russia, but also has scope for technology transfer and cooperation in third countries.

The policy document “Strategic Vision for Strengthening Cooperation in Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy” was issued after Modi-Putin meeting on Thursday.
The document is likely to put pressure on US companies, which have so far been hesitant to take advantage of the nuclear cooperation agreement inked by New Delhi and Washington in 2008, citing concerns over India’s Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010.

Modi’s first summit with Putin on Thursday also saw New Delhi and Moscow signing a General Framework Agreement for construction of two new units of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant in Tamil Nadu.

The two leaders also agreed for construction of 10 more atomic power plants in India with reactors designed in Russia. “Today, we have outlined an ambitious vision for nuclear energy of at least 10 more reactors. It will have the highest standards of safety in the world. It will also include manufacture of equipment and components in India. This also supports our Make in India policy,” the prime minister said.

Putin requested Modi to expeditiously allot a new site for construction of nuclear power plants with reactors from Russia. Ratan Kumar Sinha, Secretary, Department of Atomic Energy, and Sergey Kirienko, Director General of Russian state-owned nuclear company ROSATOM, signed the policy document.

New Delhi and Moscow agreed to progressively and significantly enhance the scope of orders for materials and equipment from Indian suppliers for construction of Russian reactors and establish joint ventures, including by transfer of technology.

The vision document has scopes for manufacturing of both main equipment and spares, with special priority for spares, for Russian–designed nuclear power units in India.

The two sides also agreed to explore “opportunities for sourcing materials, equipment and services from Indian industry for the construction of the Russian-designed nuclear power plants in third countries.