12 Aug (NucNet): India plans to build 12 Russian power reactors including up to eight “in the Kudankulam area”, prime minister Narendra Modi said during a video conference with Russian president Vladimir Putin, according to Russia's state-owned nuclear corporation Rosatom. The video conference was held to formally dedicate Kundakalum-1, a Russian-built VVER-1000 which began commercial operation in December 2014, Rosatom said. Talks are now being held between India and Russia on a general contract, expected to be signed this autumn, for construction of Kudankulam-5 and -6, Rosatom said. Mr Putin said during the video conference that negotiations were also at an advanced stage for Kudankulam-3 and -4. Kudankulam-2, also a Russian VVER-1000 unit, achieved first criticality on 10 July 2016. The Kudankulam nuclear station is in Tamil Naduu state, southern India.
