Russia, India to sign atomic cooperation pact next month

New Delhi: Moscow and New Delhi will sign an agreement next month on civilian nuclear power cooperation, according to Russian deputy prime minister, Sergey Sobyanin, who has arrived here on an official visit.

Kudankulam  nuclear plant

''Currently, we are working on an agreement between our states on cooperation in the field of the peaceful use of atomic energy. The agreement has already been initialled and I am sure it will be signed during Vladimir Putin's visit to India," Sobyanin said following his meeting with Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh.

The document is "a basic agreement which will make it possible to intensify cooperation in this perspective sphere."

Sobyanin also said Russia's participation in the construction of two additional units of the Kudankulam nuclear power plant in southern India ''is practically confirmed".

The Kudankulam nuclear power plant is being constructed using Russian design and technology.

According to Sobyanin, development of atomic energy is one of India's top priorities and Russia ''is ready to give it assistance in this".