Russia’s Rosatom to supply 12 N-power reactors to India by 2020

Russia's state-owned Rosatom will supply 12 nuclear energy reactors to India over the next two decades, under an agreement signed by the two countries during the summit meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin in New Delhi today.

The two also agreed to fast-track the construction and commissioning of the proposed 12 units as they boost nuclear energy cooperation over the next two decades, in accordance with the agreement signed in 2008.

Towards this, India has agreed to expeditiously identify a second site, in addition to Kudankulam, for the construction of the Russian-designed nuclear power units in India.

The two countries also decided to club their expertise and resources to minimise the total cost and time of construction of nuclear power units.

Russia has already commissioned a 1000-megawatt reactor at the Kudankulam power station in Tamil Nadu, with a second due to come on stream in 2015. The site will accommodate another four reactors, taking the total in Kudankulam to six units, with total generating capacity of 6000 MW.

While a suitable site for the other six units is yet to be determined, the Narendra Modi government is expected to finalise a location soon, considering the importance it attaches to energy security.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has been pushing for Rosatom to increase the number of reactors it could supply to as many as 25.

The two sides have recognised the substantial potential for broadening and strengthening of cooperation in the nuclear power sector, including research and development in nuclear power and non-power applications of atomic energy, and engineering works.

President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Narendra Modi had emphasised this potential during high-level political exchanges on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Fortaleza, Brazil on 15 July 2014.