Rosatom State Corporation and India’s Department of Atomic Energy have agreed to expand cooperation in nuclear energy, including the development of new power projects and localisation of equipment production in India. The discussions took place in Mumbai between Alexey Likhachev, Director General of Rosatom, and Ajit Kumar Mohanty, Chairman of the Department of Atomic Energy.
The meeting reviewed progress at the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) in Tamil Nadu and identified potential areas for future collaboration. The parties discussed both large-scale and small modular reactor (SMR) projects, cooperation in the nuclear fuel cycle, and technology transfer to support India’s domestic manufacturing base.
The Kudankulam NPP, India’s largest nuclear facility, consists of six power units with VVER-1000 reactors and a total installed capacity of 6,000 MW. Units 1 and 2 were connected to India’s national grid in 2013 and 2016. Pre-commissioning activities are under way at Unit 3, including preparation for testing of safety systems. Construction and installation work continue at Unit 4, while Units 5 and 6 are in the active construction phase.
Building on this foundation, Rosatom and Indian organisations are preparing technical specifications for a new nuclear power plant using Russia’s VVER-1200 reactor technology. The sides are also exploring the potential use of SMRs and floating nuclear power plants to supply electricity to remote areas and industrial facilities.
“Russia and India share a long-term and mutually beneficial partnership in the nuclear sphere,” said Alexey Likhachev, Director General of Rosatom State Corporation. “The Kudankulam project laid the foundation for our cooperation and opened the way for new joint initiatives and technology exchange. Today, India has set itself an ambitious goal of increasing its nuclear generation capacity to 100 GW, and Rosatom is ready to contribute by offering efficient and proven technologies.”
Rosatom’s fuel subsidiary, TVEL, supplies advanced nuclear fuel TVC-2M for the Kudankulam NPP, enabling an 18-month operating cycle that enhances economic efficiency compared with the previous 12-month cycle.
Rosatom State Corporation is Russia’s state-owned enterprise for nuclear energy development, engaged in power generation, fuel supply, reactor design, and technology exports.
