N-fuel for Kudankulam project soon: Russia

Ahead of President Vladimir Putin's visit to India, Russia on Monday said it would start supplying nuclear fuel for the first reactor in the Kudankulam atomic power project from the second quarter of 2007.

"During the second quarter of this year we expect to deliver fuel to the first reactor at the Kudankulam," head of the Russian Automic Energy Agency Sergei Kiriyenko told reporters as he visited the construction site of the plant.

Russia will ensure continous supply of nuclear fuel to the plant without violation of nuclear proliferation laws as long as the project functions, he said.

Kiriyenko said that Russia did not expect any pressure from the Nuclear Fuel Suppliers Group for the supply of fuel to the reactors of the KKNP.

Kiriyenko's remarks came three days ahead of Putin's visit starting Thursday during which India and Russia are expected to bolster ties in defence and energy sectors.

Moscow is already building two units in Kudankulam and is expected to ink an initial agreement with India on the construction of four additional nuclear power plants during Putin's visit.

Chairman of Atomic Energy Corporation and Secretary of Department of Atomic Energy Anil Kakodkar said an MoU has been inked by the National Thermal Power Corporation and ROSATOM for the reconstruction of the third and fourth nuclear reactors.

Details regarding the supply of fuel would be furnished once the deal is finalised, he said.

Asked about the Indo-US nuclear deal, Kakodkar said there would not be any impact in the relationship between India and Russia. Besides India required a huge quantity of nuclear fuel.

S K Jain, chairman and managing director of Nuclear Power Corporation of India, said the first reactor would attain criticality in 2008 and six months after that the second reactor would be commissioned.