Russia's TVEL to sign $780 million nuclear fuel contract with India

TVEL Corporation, the leading fuel supplier for nuclear power plants in Russia, CIS and other countries, is expected to sign a $780 million contract with India for the supply of fuel for atomic power plants in the country.

Russia is the second country to sign an agreement for supplying nuclear fuel to India since the 45-member Nuclear Suppliers Group lifted a 34-year-old ban on nuclear commerce with the country on 6 September 2008.

However, it may become the first country to open nuclear commerce with India.

In December, French company Areva signed a deal with India's Atomic Energy Department for the supply of 300 tonnes of uranium to be used in Indian nuclear reactors under International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards.

TVEL  includes some of the large Russian enterprises dealing with natural uranium mining, rendering services in fabrication, supply and scientific and engineering support of nuclear fuel operation at NPPs, is expected to sign the deal in Mumbai on Wednesday.

TVEL, which has a cooperation agreement with Siemens AG,  will supply 2,000 metric tonnes of uranium pellets to Indian nuclear power plants, RIA Novosti reported.

Russia is building two 1000 VVER light water reactors for the Kudankulam NPP in Tamil Nadu and it is expected to build four more such units.

The Corporation provides support for nuclear fuel operations at nuclear power plants in Russia, the CIS states and other countries and supplies to fuel to 73 commercial and 30 research reactors in 13 countries.

TVEL Corporation enterprises fabricate nuclear fuel for water-water reactors (VVER-1000, VVER-440, PWR, BWR), uranium-graphite reactors (RBMK-1000, RBMK-1500, EGP-6, CEFR), fast neutron reactors (BN-600) as well as research and propulsion power installations.