India and Russia have recently signed pivotal agreements related to the construction of future units of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant, located in Tamil Nadu. This development marks a significant step in the longstanding partnership between the two nations.
The announcement was made during External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s five-day visit to Russia. In Moscow, Jaishankar, accompanied by Russian Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov, highlighted the signing of these agreements as crucial for the future phases of the Kudankulam Nuclear Project. These agreements encompass not only nuclear power but also cooperation in areas such as medicines, pharmaceutical substances, and medical devices.
The Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant, which is India’s largest nuclear power plant, has been under construction with the technical assistance of Russia since March 2002. The first power unit of the plant has been operational at its design capacity of 1,000 MW since February 2016. The full operational capacity of the plant is anticipated to be achieved by 2027.
Jaishankar’s visit also involved discussions on various bilateral cooperation aspects, including trade, finance, connectivity, energy, civil aviation, and nuclear domains. He expressed appreciation for the progress in these areas and stressed the need for making the cooperation more balanced and sustainable. Additionally, the two countries have agreed that their negotiating teams will meet by the end of January to commence in-person negotiations on a free trade agreement between India and the Eurasian Economic Zone.
This agreement reflects the deep-rooted and multifaceted relationship between India and Russia, emphasizing their collaboration in critical sectors such as defence, space, and nuclear energy. The decision to move forward with the Kudankulam Nuclear Plant’s future units reinforces the countries’ commitment to enhancing their partnership and their shared objectives in the energy sector.