Russia will build at least 12 nuclear reactors in India by 2035 according to a pact signed yesterday by Vladimir Putin and Narendra Modi (pictured) at a summit in New Delhi.
The Russian president and the Indian prime minister vowed to take ties between the two countries to a new level of closeness, with cooperation in nuclear energy a key part of the plan.
In all, 20 agreements were signed during the summit on areas including nuclear energy, oil and gas, health, mining, wind power and military hardware, the Press Trust of India (PTI) reported.
A Russian-built, 1,000-megawatt reactor is already operating at the Kudankulam power station in Tamil Nadu, with a second due to come online in 2015.
During the talks over 11-12 December, the Indian side agreed to identify another site for the construction of nuclear reactors designed and built by Russia’s state-owned nuclear power company, Rosatom.
"Both Sides will strive to complete the construction and commissioning of not less than 12 units in the next two decades," said a "strategic vision document" seen by PTI. According to Reuters, Indian officials are saying that a total of six reactors will be built at Kudankulam, with a further six to follow at the site yet to be chosen.
Speaking to reporters in New Delhi, President Putin said the agreement called for a total of more than 20 nuclear reactors to be built, according to Russia’s RT news network.
Photograph: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, right, welcomes Russian President Vladimir Putin to Haidarabad Palace on 11 December in New Delhi, India (Konstantin Zavrazhin/Getty Images)
