Framework agreement for Kudankulam Units 5, 6 to be signed this year

The general framework agreement between India and Russia for Units five and six of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant is expected to be signed this year, said a top Russian official.

V.L. Limarenko, President of ASE Group that along with Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) has built the Kudankulam plant, said: "The contract for Unit three and four has been concluded. We have commenced the design and manufacturing of the main equippment."

Addressing a press conference at the Atomexpo 2016 here, he said: "We have defined the configuration and negotiations are on for the final configuration of Units four and five. This year, we plan to sign a general framework agreement for these units."

The first unit of the plant is already functional, while fuel has been loaded in the second unit which is likely to start functioning by July this year. There are four more units that now remain to be constructed.

Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant is a joint project between India and Russia in Tamil Nadu.

It is the first nuclear power plant in the world where, post Fukushima, safety enhancement requirements have been implemented.

--IANS

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