India, Russia sign pact for two more units of N-plant

​St Petersburg: India and Russia on Thursday signed the much-awaited agreement on setting up of two more units of a nuclear power plant in Tamil Nadu and decided to give a “new direction” to the defence cooperation between the two “great powers”.

The two countries also decided to hold the first tri- Services exercises, named 'Indra-2017', this year and start joint manufacturing of frigates, adding on to the co- production of Kamov-226 military helicopters.

These decisions were taken at the wide-ranging talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin here which covered a range of issues, including terrorism and increasing trade and investment.

Addressing the media jointly with Putin after the talks, Modi said the relations between India and Russia have been unwavering, based on “mutual love, respect and strong trust”. “From culture to security, our relations have been at par... We speak in one language,” he added.

He said the two leaders had decided to speed up the bilateral cooperation in all fields, for which an 'Action Plan' has been devised. Noting that India and Russia were celebrating the 70th anniversary of their relations, Modi said there has been no impact on the ties in all these decades.

Putin described the talks as substantative and said the India-Russia “partnership is developing into strategic and priveleged one.” He described the talks as “constructive and fruitful which will strengthen friendship” between the two nations. A Joint Declaration issued after the talks said that “the Indian-Russian special and privileged strategic partnership is a unique relationship of mutual trust between two great powers.”

It said the relationship covers all areas of cooperation, including in the spheres of political relations, security, trade and economy, military and technical field, energy, scientific, cultural and humanitarian exchanges, and foreign policy.

The relationship helps promote national interests of both countries, and contributes to the establishment of a more peaceful and just world order, the declaration said. The two sides signed five agreements, which included one on setting up of Units 5 and 6 of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KNPP) in Tamil Nadu with the Russian help.

Modi said the nuclear agreement, which was a major outcome of the summit meeting, will further strengthen the ties between the two countries. Putin said, “India and Russia have agreed in joint plans to erect 12 NPP units of Russian design”.

The other pacts included a contract for a high-speed train service between Nagpur and Secunderabad, an MoU for export of precious stones and jewellery and a programme on cultural exchanges. “We welcome the conclusion of the the General Framework Agreement and Credit protocol for Units 5 and 6 of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power plant,” said a 'Vision Document' issued after the talks.

The reactors will be built by India's Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) and Russia's Atomstroyexport company, a subsidiary of Rosatom, the regulatory body of the Russian nuclear complex.

Each of the two units will have a capacity to produce 1,000 MW of power. The document titled 'A vision for the 21st Century' said economies of India and Russia complement each other in the energy sector and both countries will strive to build an “energy bridge”.

It said the future of Indian-Russian cooperation holds great promise across a wide spectrum covering nuclear power, nuclear fuel cycle and nuclear science and technology. “We will strive to build an 'energy bridge' between our states and expand bilateral relations in all areas of energy cooperation, including nuclear, hydrocarbon, hydel and renewable energy sources and in improving energy efficiency,” it said.

The growing partnership in the nuclear power sector between India and Russia has opened opportunities for developing advanced nuclear manufacturing capabilities in India in line with India's “Make In India” initiative, the declaration said.