Rosatom has expressed interest in collaborating with Indian companies not only for the construction large nuclear power plants, but also to jointly work on small and medium sized reactors that could provide solutions for power woes in densely populated countries.
Nikita Masein, Vice President of Rosatom Overseas (a division of Russia’s Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation) revealed this during the 11th edition of Nuclear Energy Conclave organised by Indian Energy Forum. Riding on the success of its nuclear reactor designs, which have seen one reactor being commissioned every year for the last 14 years.
“We at Rosatom are looking for partnership in the development of the small and medium-sized plants solution based on light water reactor unit based on our design. In Russia we have commissioned and will so be operationalizing the Floating Nuclear Power Plant this year,” Masein said addressing the conclave. He contended that there is need to explore the possibility of such projects in the coastal areas of South Asia. The segment can provide opportunity for furthering the nuclear cooperation between India and Russia.
“Those countries that don’t have significant demand or the system to absorb large capacity power units, the similar solution of 100 MW units can be useful. We are also in talks with some international partners in India for development of such units in third countries. We want to enhance our cooperation beyond execution of present projects,” Masein added.
Making a case for nuclear energy, the Rosatom representative said that besides coal, only nuclear can provide the base load energy required to curb Carbon Dioxide emissions. “India needs to understand the importance of base load energy solutions. So far coal has been meeting this requirement but the need is to shift to nuclear power plant. In NPP it is easier guess the economics cost as the operation cost remains more or less the same,” he emphasised.
Rosatom is the main supplier and partner in the construction of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant. Russia and India have already inked an agreement for the construction of second nuclear power plant. “We are looking for cooperation to execute the project not only in India but also in third countries. We are discussing with our partners in India how to execute localisation agreement signed three years ago. We are talking with stakeholders about developing new power plant projects,” he added.
Masein articulated India’s need to reduce cost and recurring costs for nuclear power to make it more competitive. He said that cooperation can be expanded to other sectors like health and agriculture.
