Russia has offered to collaborate with India on the localisation of large and small nuclear power plants, strengthening civil nuclear energy cooperation between the two countries.
The proposal was made by Alexey Likhachov, Director General of Russia’s state atomic energy corporation Rosatom, during a meeting with the Indian delegation at the 69th annual session of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) General Conference in Vienna, held from September 15–20.
“Talks with India—one of Rosatom’s strategic partners—focused on expanding cooperation in peaceful nuclear energy. Rosatom proposed joint work on localising large- and small-scale nuclear power plant projects, leveraging India’s industrial capabilities,” the corporation said in a statement.
The discussions also reviewed progress on four units currently under construction at the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) in Tamil Nadu, part of phases II and III of the project. Opportunities for further cooperation, including the serial construction of Russian-designed nuclear plants in India, were also explored.
In the first phase of Kudankulam NPP, Rosatom has already commissioned two units. The corporation, which is marking the 80th anniversary of Russia’s nuclear industry this year, showcased its innovations and long-term vision for nuclear energy at the Vienna forum.
Rosatom is also constructing the Rooppur NPP in Bangladesh and has previously signed agreements with India to source equipment for the project. (Source: NDTV)
