CHENNAI: The fifth and sixth units of Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant in Tamil Nadu moved a step closer to implementation after three main contracts were signed between the ASE Group of Companies, part of the Russian State Atomic Energy Corporation, and the Nuclear Power Corporation of India.
The two units are estimated to cost about Rs 50,000 crore to build, with half of it being funded by Russia as a loan. The contracts for the project are for supply of equipment with long manufacturing cycle, for the first priority design works, and for supply of working documentation. These units are expected to take seven years to start generating electricity.
This comes after India and Russia signed an agreement for the two new reactors for the nuclear power complex during the annual summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin on June 1.
Andrey Lebedev, vice-president for projects in South Asia, ASE Group, said the construction of units 5 and 6 was now entering the stage of implementation.
“Designing, development of procurement procedures of main equipment from Russia has now begun to complete Units 5 and 6 of Kudankulam nuclear plant,” he added.