Russia is to start supplying equipment for an Indian nuclear power plant at Kudankulam at the beginning of next year. Around 300 Russian companies are involved in supplying parts for the project, including Izhora Works, the Urals Heavy Engineering Plant, Elektrosila, LMZ in St Petersburg and the Podolsk Engineering Works in Moscow.
Construction of the plant is expected to take up to eight years. Work has already started and Atomstroyexport representatives are at the site. The plant will initially comprise two VVER-1000 reactors. However the Indian government is considering expanding the plant further with two or possibly four more reactors.
The original agreement for the construction of Kudankulam was signed between the Soviet Union and India in November 1988 but the collapse of the Soviet Union forced its postponement. A supplementary agreement was signed in June 1998. The project is supported with Russian state credit. Total cost of the scheme is estimated to be between $1.5 billion and $2 billion. Commercial service is scheduled for 2008 or 2009.
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