Modi, Putin join to dedicate Kudankulam Unit-1 to nation

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin jointly dedicated the first unit of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power project in Tamil Nadu to the nation today.

The 1,000 MW plant was dedicated to the nation through video conferencing with both leaders signalling the start of operations at Unit 1 of the plant.

Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa was also part of the video link.

Besides, Kudankulam Nuclear Power Corporation chairman SK Sharma, president of Russian company Atomstroy Export, Limareenko and site director Sundar were present at the site.

The prime minister noted that at 1,000 Mega Watt, Kudankulum-1 is the largest single unit of electrical power in India. Going forward, he said, ''we are determined to pursue an ambitious agenda of nuclear power generation.''

The plant, built with Russian help, has been in service since 2014 and generates a total of 1,000 MW of power.

''At Kudankulum alone, five more units of 1,000 Mega Watt each are planned. ..In our journey of cooperation, we plan to build a series of bigger nuclear power units.''

''I have a vision for India where achievements of our economic development are respectful to mother earth... And, where the engines of our industrial growth are increasingly driven by clean energy.

''Kudankulum 1 is an important addition to India's continuing efforts to scale up production of clean energy in India. It also signals our joint commitment to build pathways of partnership for green growth,'' the prime minister said.

He said the dedication of Kudankulum 1 marked another historic step in India-Russia relations. ''Its successful completion is not just another fine example of the strength of our special and privileged Strategic Partnership, it is also a celebration of our abiding friendship. And, it is only a start of our collaboration in this field,'' he said.

Modi thanked President Putin for having found time to join him in the dedication ceremony.

''Kudankulum 1 is an important addition to India's continuing efforts to scale up production of clean energy in India. It also signals our joint commitment to build pathways of partnership for green growth,'' he said.

The plant was built with Russian expertise following a pact between former Indian PM Rajiv Gandhi and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev in November 1988. However, construction of the plant began only in 1997 due to the turmoil Russia went through after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Once fully operational, the Kudankulam project with an overall generating capacity of 6,000 MW, will power many states, including Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala.