New Delhi: Russia has reiterated its strong partnership with India in civil nuclear development, with President Vladimir Putin announcing that Moscow will ensure the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP) in Tamil Nadu reaches its full planned capacity. Speaking at a joint press interaction with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, Putin described the plant as a “flagship project” of Indo-Russian cooperation and a cornerstone of India’s long-term energy security.
Putin noted that two of the six VVER-1000 reactors at Kudankulam are already operational, supplying power to the national grid, while four additional units remain under construction. Once all six reactors are commissioned, the plant will have a total capacity of 6,000 MW, making it the single largest nuclear power complex in India.
“We are implementing a landmark project to build India’s largest nuclear facility at Kudankulam. Two reactors are functioning, and work on the remaining four is actively progressing. Achieving full capacity will make a substantial contribution to meeting India’s growing energy needs,” Putin said.
Putin’s remarks came soon after Rosatom, Russia’s state nuclear corporation, confirmed that it had delivered the first batch of nuclear fuel for the initial loading of the plant’s third reactor. The shipment, transported by a special cargo flight from Russia, includes uranium fuel assemblies manufactured at the Novosibirsk Chemical Concentrates Plant.
Rosatom reported that the complete fuel delivery for the unit will require seven air consignments, part of a 2024 supply contract that covers the long-term fuel needs of Unit-3 and Unit-4 throughout their operational life.
Putin indicated that Moscow is ready to broaden its technological cooperation with New Delhi in the nuclear sector, including small modular reactors, floating nuclear power plants, and non-energy nuclear applications such as medical isotopes and agricultural technologies.
“There is a vast scope to expand our cooperation. We can work together on next-generation reactors as well as peaceful nuclear technologies useful in healthcare and agriculture,” he said.
The Russian president also highlighted the broader energy partnership between the two countries, stating that Russia remains a dependable supplier of oil, gas, coal, and other critical resources that underpin India’s rapidly expanding economy. He assured that shipments of fossil fuels and nuclear material will continue without disruption.
Located near India’s southernmost coastline in Tirunelveli district, the Kudankulam plant has evolved into the centerpiece of Indo-Russian nuclear collaboration. The plant’s first two units went online in 2013 and 2016, respectively, demonstrating a long-standing technological partnership that continues to deepen.
With the arrival of new fuel, accelerated construction activity, and renewed political backing from both sides, the Kudankulam project is poised to play a transformative role in India’s shift toward stable, large-scale, low-carbon energy generation.