During the visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin, India and Russia are anticipated to expand their civil nuclear energy cooperation. The action plan will focus on the second site for Russian nuclear plant in India besides localisation of components for nuclear power plants under the ‘Make in India’ initiative, boosting collaboration for the nuclear power plant in Kudankulam and initiatives in third countries, according to ET.
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Putting an action plan in place for extending civil nuclear partnership between India and Russia was an important element on the agenda during foreign minister Sushma Swaraj’s visit to Moscow last week, As of now, Currently, Russia remains the only country that is constructing a nuclear power plant in India.
Russia-supported Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant is one of the largest nuclear power stations in India. It is scheduled to have six VVER-1,000 reactors with an installed capacity of 1,000 MW each.
The unit 1 of the plant was synchronised with the southern power grid in October 2013 and is generating electricity. The second unit, with a capacity of 1,000 MW, had become critical for the first time in July 2016.
It was connected to the grid in August 2016 and started commercial operation in October 2016. The construction of units 3 and 4 are underway. The ‘first pour of concrete’ for unit 3 of the Kudankulam Power Plant, which marks the commencement of the building of the project, took place on June 29, 2017.
Foundation slabs for reactor buildings of units 3 and 4 have already been made. The construction is on schedule, according to officials. The first batch of equipment for turbine building of unit 3 of Kudankulam NPP was completed and shipped out. Particularly, the first two high-pressure heaters were dispatched for the turbine building of Kudankulam Nuclear Plant.
Also, the reactor pressure vessel for KNPP unit 3 will be delivered by the end of the current year followed by KNPP unit 4 that will be completed next year.
During the India-Russia summit last year held in St Petersburg, both the countries signed the general framework agreement for the construction of unit 5 and 6 of KKNPP and an intergovernmental credit protocol necessary for the implementation of the project was also signed.
Currently, intensive ground and infrastructural work is under way for unit 5 and 6. Besides the KNPP, Russia is working with India for the development of the first nuclear power plant in Bangladesh at Rooppur.
The trilateral agreement was signed by India, Russia and Bangladesh where all the three nations have agreed to collaborate in personnel training, experience sharing and consulting support. Under the agreement, Indian companies will participate in construction and installation work, supply of non-critical materials and equipment for the project.
