India inks N-pact with Russia after US, France

After inking nuclear cooperation pact with France and United States post-NSG waiver, India signed the long-pending nuclear cooperation agreement with Russia on Friday for construction of four more atomic reactors at Kudankulam, the southern state of Tamil Nadu.

It is the third bilateral nuclear pact New Delhi has signed owing to its impeccable non-proliferation credentials after the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) lifted a global atomic embargo against India on Sep 6 this year.

The agreement was signed by director general Sergei Kiriyendo of the Russian state corporation, Roasatom and Anil Kakodkar, chairman of the Indian Atomic Energy Commission in presence of the Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

At the outset, two additional nuclear power plants at Kundakulum will be built with the Russian cooperation. The location for at least two more nuclear power plants is being finalised.

Russia, which was helping India build two light water reactors of 1,000 MW at the same site even prior to NSG exemption, had to halt its programme waiting NSG clearance for more focussed nuclear cooperation.

Addressing a joint press conference at the end of the meeting with visiting President Medvedev, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh noted: “The bilateral civilian nuclear cooperation marks a new milestone in the annals of our cooperation with Russia in the field of nuclear energy.”

Dr. Singh said that we have detailed talks covering all areas of our relationship such as civil nuclear cooperation, hydrocarbons, trade and economy, defence, space, science and technology, culture and terrorism.

The two sides took a step forward in the area of space cooperation, and also agreed to initiate joint activities in human space flight programme.

India and Russia also discussed the regional and international issues, including terrorism in depth and agreed that terror attacks require a major intensification of efforts against supporters and perpetrators of terrorism anywhere in the world.