India, Russia to finalise nuclear deal in June

Four new nuclear reactors of 1,000 MW capacity each will be set up in Kudankulam in Tamil Nadu after India finalises a deal on it with Russia in June this year, a top scientist has said. The four 'VVER-type' reactors will be in addition to two 1,000 MW reactors which are already being constructed there.

"India and Russia have already signed other enabling accords like agreements on sharing of information and it is only the techno-commercial offer that has to be finalised and we expect it to be completed by June," Nuclear Power Corporation Chairman S K Jain told reporters in Tarapur on Wednesday at a function to commemorate 40 years of nuclear electricity in India. The first two units of 1,000 MW reactors, which are under advanced stages of construction, will be completed during the course of this year, he said.

Asked how long it will take for the Corporation to get the foreign reactors since the Indo-US deal was signed last October, Jain said that after the inter-governmental deal was finalised with the United States, India could not immediately go for nuclear commerce with the Nuclear Suppliers Group as there were several important steps to be carried out before the final commerce took place.

The steps included discussions on technical details, financial aspects, transportation, manufacturing of equipment and safety, he said.