PM may broach Russia on four extra N-reactors

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who will be in Russia on a brief visit to attend the Victory Day celebrations, will meet Russian President Vl...

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who will be in Russia on a brief visit to attend the Victory Day celebrations, will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday. Discussions on energy cooperation, particularly in the civilian nuclear field, will rule the agenda.

Given the advances in starting an energy dialogue with the US — that includes civilian nuclear cooperation — the PM is expected to draw Putin’s attention to India’s request for four additional nuclear reactors for the Koodankulam nuclear plant. Russia is already involved in setting up two reactors for this project.

The country, had, however, pointed out earlier that the commitment was made before it joined the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). Now there are constraints on such cooperation. India, on its part, has underlined the strict norms it follows on the safeguard of nuclear reactors despite not being a part of the Non-Proliferation Treaty.

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Petroleum Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar will be visiting Russia later this month, during which he will go to the Sakhalin Oil and Gas project. ONGC Videsh Ltd has acquired 20 per cent stake in this project and invested about $2.1 billion, the largest overseas investment by India.

Cooperation in the energy sector will come under focus at the trilateral meeting of the foreign ministers of India, China and Russia, which is likely to be held on June 1 at Vladivostok.

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