The cooperation between India and Russia on the nuclear energy front will not be impeded by New Delhi’s programme to build its own nuclear reactors. Hailing signing of agreement on last units of Kudankulam nuclear power plant as an important milestone, Founder-Chairman (retd) of Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) M R Srinivasan said in an interview to Russian News Agency, TASS that Moscow can help New Delhi to ‘maximise localisation’ of the programmes in the nuclear sphere.
How do you see the inking of the much awaited pact between India and Russia for the construction of the Units of 5 and 6 of the Kudankulam nuclear power plant in Tamil Nadu? How do you think it will further the cooperation between the two countries in the field of nuclear energy?
Signing of agreement on units 5 and 6 of Kudankulam is a good news, as the matter has been under discussion for some time. It is an important milestone in Indo-Russian nuclear relations.
How do you explain that Russia has been the only country to have cooperation with India in the construction of the nuclear power plants?
India has been discussing with AREVA of France and Westinghouse of USA. Both these companies have faced severe financial problems and so no agreements could be reached so far.
Does India’s plan to build 10 nuclear reactors of its own will impede the cooperation with other countries?
Government of India has cleared a proposal to build ten indigenous pressurized heavy-water reactor (PHWR) of 700MW capacity each. This does not mean we will stop cooperation with other countries.
How Russia can further its cooperation with India in the nuclear sphere?
Russia can certainly take part in Make in India Program in the nuclear sphere. There is a proposal that six VVER-1200 reactors could be built at a second site in India. India would like to maximise localisation and we hope Moscow will be fully supportive.
