During Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent state visit to India for talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, economic, political military and scientific relations were strengthened including nuclear cooperation. Some 29 documents were signed including memoranda of understanding, agreements and protocols covering a wide range of topics, the most important of which was the Joint Statement summarising the outcome of the summit.
This 70-paragraph document included a section focusing on Cooperation in the field of peaceful nuclear energy and space (paragraphs 23-27). The parties “confirmed their intention to expand cooperation in the field of nuclear energy, including the nuclear fuel cycle, ensuring the life cycle of the Kudankulam nuclear power plant and non-energy application of nuclear technologies, as well as to work out a new agenda for interaction in the field of the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and related high technologies”
They “noted the importance of cooperation in the field of nuclear energy use for peaceful purposes as an essential component of a strategic partnership, taking into account the plans of the Government of the Republic of India to increase nuclear generation in the country to 100 GWe by 2047”.
They “welcomed the progress made on the Kudankulam nuclear power plant project, including construction of the remaining power units, and agreed to adhere to the schedule for the supply of equipment and fuel”.
They “noted the importance of further discussions on the allocation of a second site in India for the construction of a nuclear power plant”. India “will make efforts to officially allocate it in accordance with previously concluded agreements”.
The parties agreed to speed up technical and commercial consultations on the implementation of the project “for construction of a new Russian project nuclear power plant with a VVER reactor”, on research and joint development of nuclear power plants, on “localisation and joint production of components and fuel assemblies for Russian project nuclear power plants in accordance with mutually acceptable conditions and provisions”.
Following the talks and a ceremony for the exchange of signed documents, President Putin and Prime Minister Modi made statements for the media. Modi noted that energy security is an important pillar of partnership between Russia and India. “Our cooperation in the field of civilian nuclear energy, which is rooted in our history, has helped us uphold our commitment to providing clean energy, which is extremely important for both countries,” he said. “I have no doubt that our mutually beneficial cooperation in the field of critical minerals will also be important for a safe and diversified provision of resources to the world. We also maintain our cooperation in such areas as clean energy, high technologies and modern industries.”
Putin noted that the Joint Statement outlined “clear priorities for advancing our ties in politics, security, trade, the economy, and cultural and humanitarian affairs”. He added: “As you have seen, this was complemented by the signing of a substantial package of intergovernmental, interdepartmental, and corporate agreements.”
He said there had been positive momentum in the energy partnership. “Russia is a reliable supplier of energy resources and everything India needs for developing its energy sector. We are ready to continue ensuring uninterrupted fuel supplies for the Indian economy to support its rapid expansion.”
However, “our bilateral energy cooperation goes far beyond this horizon”. He noted that “the flagship project” to build India’s biggest NPP, Kudankulam, is underway. “Two out of six reactors have been connected to the power grid, while the other four are in the engineering and construction stages.”
He added: “Once this NPP reaches its full capacity, it will make a meaningful contribution to India’s energy mix, helping Indian companies and households access affordable and clean energy. We believe that building small modular reactors (SMRs) and floating NPPs could also be relevant, just as using nuclear technology for non-energy purposes, including in healthcare, agriculture and other sectors.”
Kudankulam NPP, in the Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu, will comprise six units with VVER-1000 reactors. Work began following an intergovernmental agreement between India and Russia signed in 1988 by Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev. The project survived the collapse of the Soviet Union and the subsequent economic chaos in Russia.
Units 1&2 (Phase I) began operation in 2016 and work is underway to build units 3-6 (Phases II and III). The customer and operator of the station is the National Power Company of India Ltd (NPCIL), the general contractor is JSC ASE JSC (Rosatom’s Engineering Division), general designer Atomenergoproject and equipment designer OKB Gidropress.
The general framework agreement with Rosatom on the construction units 3&4 was signed in 2014 and, in 2017, the engineering division of Rosatom and NPCIL signed an agreement on the construction units 5&6. Work on units 5&6 began in 2021 and the NPP is expected to be operating at full capacity by 2027. The roadmap for nuclear cooperation between Russia and India provides for the construction of a total 12 units in India, including 4-8 at Kudankulam.
Currently, Kudankulam is the only foreign-built nuclear power plant producing electricity in India, a contrast to stalled projects involving American and French companies which remain on paper due to pricing and liability disagreements.
Commenting on the Russia-India summit, First Post noted: The United States and European nations have imposed sweeping sanctions on Russia following the conflict in Ukraine, and have urged partners like India to reduce their dependency on Moscow. However, the progress at Kudankulam demonstrates that New Delhi and Moscow have successfully insulated their strategic projects from these financial weapons.”
It continued: “To bypass sanctions that block dollar-denominated trade, India and Russia have been settling trade in national currencies (Rupee and Rouble) and utilising alternative payment gateways. The seamless delivery of nuclear fuel and the continued arrival of reactor components for units 5 and 6 indicate that these payment mechanisms are working effectively for strategic sectors.
