Russia to build up to 8 nuclear reactors in India

Russia plans to construct up to 8 nuclear reactors in Indian West Bengal as part of a long-term pact between the two countries for expanding civil nuclear cooperation.

“The Government of India has taken a decision and has awarded us the new site at Haripur in West Bengal. It means we will build at least six, maximum eight nuclear power reactors,” Chief of the Russian State Nuclear Corporation RosAtom Sergei Kiriyenko said Friday.

Srikumar Banerjee, Head of India’s Atomic Energy Commission, said recently that the country was planning to increase nuclear power generation to 60 gigawatts by about 2035, from the 4.7 gigawatts currently produced by 18 reactors.

“India’s established reserve of uranium will allow us to raise our installed capacity only to 10 gigawatts,” he said.

On December 15, Russian Ambassador to India Alexander Kadakin said his country was planning to set up 12 to 14 nuclear reactors in India, adding that Moscow had no issues with transferring enrichment and reprocessing technologies to New Delhi.

“We do not have domestic laws as strict as in some other countries. We do not see many problems in this field,” he said.