Russia offers 4 n-reactors to India

Ahead of Russian President Vladimir Putin8217;s visit to Delhi, Moscow has offered to sell four 1000 MW nuclear reactors to India to bolster capacity at Koodankulam.

Ahead of Russian President Vladimir Putin8217;s visit to Delhi, Moscow has offered to sell four 1000 MW nuclear reactors to India to bolster capacity at Koodankulam.

While the sale of these light-water reactors can only go through after the guidelines of the Nuclear Suppliers Group are changed for India, both sides will reach an understanding to set the stage for the final contract.

For India, this has been a longstanding request to Russia which maintained so far that it could only go ahead with such an agreement after NSG rules were changed. New Delhi was then keen for Russia to explore the possibility of selling additional reactors on the grounds that the Koodankulam agreement was signed in 1988, before NSG guidelines on restricting supplies to non-NPT states were made effective.

In fact, this was the basis for Russia8217;s supply of the first two reactors that are already in Koodankulam now. But the sale drew sharp criticism from US and other NSG members, following which Moscow began underlining the need for India to enter into talks for getting a special exemption for future supplies.

Now, in anticipation of a change in NSG rules with the Indo-US n-deal entering its last lap, Moscow is keen on being the first to move. Russian Atomic energy chief Sergei Kiriyenko will be part of Putin8217;s delegation and is expected to arrive here earlier.

Russia has already signalled its intentions by supplying fuel for Tarapur. While this was an issue on which the US had agreed to facilitate supplies in the July 18 joint statement, New Delhi is cautious not to make any significant movement on entering into deals for new reactors before all steps of the n-deal are completed.

Sources pointed out that it is important India does not take any step that will arm the critics of the n-deal in the US. This is crucial as the 123 bilateral agreement to be signed between India and US will have to go back to the US Congress for approval.

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