Russia to build nuclear reactors in Kudankulam

New Delhi, Feb 12: Russia on Tuesday reaffirmed its commitment to build additional nuclear reactors in Kudankulam in Tamil Nadu under an agreement for which negotiations have been completed.

The strategic partners also decided to step up all-round cooperation with particular focus on defence, hydrocarbons, trade and economic ties during talks between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Russian Prime Minister Victor A. Zubkov here. They also set a bilateral trade target of 10 billion dollars to be achieved by 2010, for which the recommendations of a joint task force would be implemented and Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) considered.

Addressing journalists after his 90-minute meeting with Zubkov, Singh said the two sides discussed issues related to civil nuclear cooperation.

"We have finalised negotiation in regard to reaching agreement on building additional nuclear power plants in India," he said in the presence of the Russian Prime Minister.

Zubkov affirmed his country's commitment to building the nuclear plants in Kudankulam.

Under the agreement, Russia is to build four additional reactors in Kudankulam but it will have to await a waiver from NSG, for which efforts are underway.

The agreement was to be signed during Singh's visit to Moscow in November last year but it was put off because of lack of NSG waiver.

ANI