Denis Demin, head of Information-Analytical Department of Energocapital IC

— The many-year history of cooperation in the field of peaceful use of nuclear energy gives Russian producers big advantages on the Indian market

India is considering the possibility of building four more units (3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th) at Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant with reactors of Russian design, senior official of Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited Ashok Chauhan said during Moscow-Delhi video bridge. He said that the 1st unit of Kudankulam NPP might be ready by the end of 2009. Ravi B. Grover, Director of the Strategic Planning Group of Homi Bhabha Atomic Research Center, said that the Indian authorities were going to cooperate with the Russians under other NPP construction projects in other region of India.

The many-year history of cooperation in the field of peaceful use of nuclear energy gives Russian producers big advantages on the Indian market. The first effects of the lifting of the Nuclear Suppliers Group’s restrictions are just beginning to manifest themselves. I would like to remind you that the memorandum of intention to build four more reactors at Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant and at other sites was signed by the Department of Atomic Energy of the Government of India and Rosatom in Jan 2007. India’s nuclear program is quite extensive: starting from its second stage the Indians are planning to obtain not only Russian reactors – most likely, at Jaitapur Nuclear Power Plant they will use the reactors manufactured by AREVA. At later stages India is going to attain 80% localization of its nuclear industry. By 2020 the Indians are planning to build a nuclear power plant of own design – AHWR.

The Indian market is very important for the Russian nuclear power engineers. The presence of a reliable international partner, who is ready to place long-term complex contracts, is especially important for our nuclear industry in the face of aggravating economic crisis. While our nuclear program is gaining momentum, the export contracts may give necessary impulse to our technological development.