In a recent meeting held in Seversk, Russia, it was announced that Russia is poised to extend its support to India in developing high-capacity nuclear power stations at a new location. This initiative is in addition to the ongoing cooperation at the Kudankulam nuclear power project. The statement came from Alexey Likhachev, the Director General of Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation, as he met with Ajit Kumar Mohanty, the chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission of India.
During Mohanty’s visit to the “Proryv” or “Breakthrough” project aimed at developing a nuclear power plant with a closed nuclear fuel cycle, discussions about expanding collaboration in the peaceful use of nuclear energy occurred. Likhachev emphasized Russia’s readiness to embark on a significant expansion of this cooperation, including constructing Russian-designed nuclear power units with high capacity at a new Indian site. The Russian side also expressed openness to engage in land-based and floating low-power generation projects alongside cooperation in the nuclear fuel cycle and the non-power applications of nuclear technology.
India is receiving assistance from Russia in building the Kudankulam nuclear power project in Tamil Nadu, which will include six light-water nuclear reactors, each with a capacity of 1,000 MW. This project began in 2002 and saw the first reactor commence commercial operations in 2014, with the second following in 2016. Currently, the construction of two additional reactors is in progress.
During a visit to Russia by India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar last December, they signed agreements to advance the construction of the fifth and sixth reactors at the Kudankulam site. Jaishankar later revealed that India is exploring additional sites for Russian reactors.
The meeting between Mohanty and Likhachev also covered the progress of the Kudankulam project. It took place at the Pilot Demonstration Energy Complex (PDEC) in Seversk, Tomsk region, which is integral to the Proryv project. Besides aiming for a closed nuclear fuel cycle, this project also seeks to address issues related to spent nuclear fuel and radioactive waste.
Described by Rosatom as a cornerstone of “Russian-Indian technological and power industry cooperation,” the Kudankulam project stands as India’s most significant nuclear power plant. Construction and installation teams are actively working on the project’s third stage, which involves building Units 3 and 4 simultaneously, and are delivering equipment. Rosatom has committed to supplying fuel for the Kudankulam NPP’s power units throughout their entire lifecycle.