Russia to supply fuel for Kudankulam power project

Madurai: Russia will start supplying nuclear fuel for the first reactor in the Kudankulam atomic power project from the second quarter of 2007.

Russia, which is currently engaged in building two units of 1000 mwte in Kudankulam, is expected to sign an initial agreement with India on the construction of four additional nuclear power plants during the visit of Russian president Vladmir Putin.

The National Thermal Pwer Corp and Rusia's Rosatom have signed an agreement for the construction of the third and fourth nuclear reactors

Russian president Vladmir Putin will visit India starting Thursday during which the two countries are expected to boost cooperation in defence and energy.

According to Sergei Kiriyenko, head of the Russian Atomic Energy Agency Russia would ensure continuous supply of nuclear fuel to the plant without violation of nuclear proliferation laws as long as the project remained functional.

Russia does not expect any pressure from the 'nuclear fuel suppliers group' (NSG) for the supply of fuel to the Kudankulam reactors.