7 Dec 2009 18:49

Rosatom expects first unit of Kudankulam NPP to be launched in 2010, second in 2011

MOSCOW. Dec 7 (Interfax) - Russia's state nuclear corporation Rosatom expects the first power-generating unit of the Kudankulam nuclear power plant, being built in India, to be launched in 2010 and the second in 2011, Rosatom head Sergei Kiriyenko said at a branch forum in Moscow.

The Kudabnkulam nuclear power plant is being built with the participation of Russia's Atomstroyexport. Two power-generating units with VVER-1000 reactors are under construction.

Russia and India have initialed the agreement to add four more power generating units to the Kudankulam nuclear power plant, Kiriyenko said.

India is also ready to make a land site available to Russia in Western Bengal to build 4-6 more nuclear power generating units. A discussion is under way of one more construction site, he said.

"It is an order for 10-15 years ahead," Kiriyenko also said.

India earlier said it wanted to develop nuclear power engineering. By 2025, the capacity of the Indian nuclear power plants will reach 500,000 megawatts. The country will be orientated to significant localization of production for building its nuclear power plants.