Russia delivers Nuclear fuel to India

Russia has completed delivery of nuclear fuel for India’s Kudankulam Atomic Power Plant, which is in its final stages of construction in Tamil Nadu.

According to Russian nuclear energy industry Atomenergoprom’s website, the nuclear fuel rods consisting of not more than 4.1 per cent uranium-235 have been delivered strictly under the IAEA guidelines and contractual obligations.

The fuels will suffice for the physical launch of one reactor and its subsequent reloading after one year, the website said. Along with the fuel, Russia has supplied two VVER-1000 nuclear units with a total capacity of 2000 MWe.

Russia’s Atomstroiexport corporation has already delivered 83 per cent of equipment to India for the project running at least two years behind the initial schedule due to reorganisation of the national nuclear industry and its corporatisation.

Moscow and New Delhi have also signed an agreement for building four more units once the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) eases sanctions against India on the transfer of civilian nuclear technology.