Rosatom successfully operates in global market of NPP construction services

Russia and India have signed a general framework agreement and a contract for the supply of the main equipment for the third and fourth nuclear power units of the Kudankulam nuclear power plant, Rosatom Director General Sergei Kiriyenko said in New Delhi. The agreement was inked during the visit of the Russian delegation led by Russia's President Vladimir Putin to India.

The agreement on the construction of the third and the fourth nuclear power units of the Kudankulam NPP was a long-expected one, the head of the economy department of the Institute of Energy and Finances Sergei Kondratyev said when commenting on the documents, BelTA has learned. Russia has successfully completed the first stage of the NNP construction, which has encouraged the Indian side to sign an agreement to build the second stage of the plant. Russia, in general, had ambitious plans with regard to the Indian market. Two years ago the two countries signed a framework agreement, according to which Russia could build up to 28 nuclear power units. The present agreement totally complies with the strategy for the expansion of the presence of Russian producers in India.

As other Rosatom’s international contracts, the political situation has had little impact on it so far. Nuclear engineering is quite a specific area. Today Rosatom signs contracts with the countries that are in good relations with Russia, including at the political level. Hungary and Finland are among them. We have many things in common in terms of our economic cooperation in general, and in terms of nuclear power engineering specifically. During the Soviet Union times Russia participated in the construction of nuclear stations in Finland and Hungary, which should be considered by these countries as an important positive experience.

However, in some particular cases the politics outweighs the reasons of economic feasibility and the countries turn down the lucrative offers of the Russian side, like it was the case with the Belene nuclear power plant. Nevertheless, Rosatom has been doing well in the global market of NPP construction services.