India and Russia are expected to sign a nuclear deal for the construction of four additional reactors at the Kudankulam nuclear power plant and expansion of other sites during Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's three-day visit to New Delhi beginning Thursday, a top official has said.
"We plan to sign on Friday an inter-governmental agreement with India to build another four reactors for the Kudankulam nuclear power plant, and envisaging cooperation at new sites," Russian Nuclear Energy Corporation CEO Sergei Kiriyenko was quoted as saying by RIA Novosti.
A spokesman for the Rosatom said Russia and India could also sign an agreement to supply Russian nuclear fuel to Indian nuclear power plants. The bilateral agreement, part of the efforts of two Indian governments and four ambassadors, was initialed in February 2008, pending the Nuclear Suppliers Group waiver.
Russia's nuclear power equipment and service export monopoly Atomstroiexport, has been building two VVER-1000 MWe light water reactors of the Kudankulam plant in Tamil Nadu since 2002 under a grandfather pact signed in 1988 by India with the ex-USSR and revived in 1998.
Last month, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin indicated Moscow's willingness to provide loans to India for importing Russian equipment.
