Russia plans to increase the level of localisation to 50% in the construction of new units at India’s Kudankulam nuclear power plant.
The Consul General of the Russian Federation in Mumbai, Andrey Zhiltsov, said the present rate of localisation is around 20% but should increase to 50% during construction of Kudankulam 5&6 at the plant, PTI reported on 12 November. Zhiltsov also confirmed that a second site for the development of Russian reactors will soon be announced and will comprise six VVER-1200 reactor units.
Kudankulam NPP is being built in Tamil Nadu under a 1988 Russian-Indian agreement and its 1998 supplement. Atomstroyexport is the general contractor, and Atomenergoproekt is the general designer. Both companies are part of Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom. Construction is undertaken in partnership with state-run Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL).
Two VVER-1000 units (1 and 2) are already operating at Kudankulam with two more under construction (3 and 4) and two more planned (5 and 6).
