India, Russia ink key pact for 2 nuclear power units in Kudankulum

St Petersburg: In a big boost for the country’s clean energy requirements, India and Russia on May 31 signed an agreement for setting up of Units 5 and 6 of Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant in Tamil Nadu.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Vladimir Putin inked five pacts on wide ranging issues like trade, technology and regional cooperation, but the deal to build the last two units of India’s largest nuclear power plant is the highlight of the annual summit.
Addressing a joint press conference, the two leaders reaffirmed the close ties between India and Russia and their desire for further cooperation in the power and energy sector.
“Economies of India and Russia complement each other in energy sector. We will strive to build an “Energy Bridge” between our states. We welcome conclusion of General Framework Agreement and Credit Protocol for Units 5 and 6 of Kudankulam Nuclear Plant,” PM Modi said.
The reactors will be built by India’s Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) and Russia’s Atomstroyexport company, a subsidiary of Rosatom, the regulatory body of the Russian nuclear complex. Each of the two units will have a capacity to produce 1,000 MW of power.
A document titled ‘A vision for the 21st Century’ issued at the summit said the future of Indian-Russian cooperation holds great promise across a wide spectrum covering nuclear power, nuclear fuel cycle and nuclear science and technology.
The growing partnership in the nuclear power sector between India and Russia has opened opportunities for developing advanced nuclear manufacturing capabilities in India in line with India’s “Make In India” initiative, the declaration said.
The two countries also said that there has been a “steady and demonstrable” achievements in bilateral civil nuclear partnership, including advancing nuclear power projects at the Kudankulum site and transforming it into one of India’s largest energy hubs.
President Vladimir Putin also asserted that Russia’s “trust-based” relations with India – which he described as one of its “closest friends” – will not be diluted by Moscow’s growing ties with Pakistan and other countries.

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