India-Russia reach 'general agreement' on two Kundakulam reactors

Talks between New Delhi and Moscow on Wednesday led to an early date when a general framework agreement would be reached on two reactors of the Kudankulam nuclear power project in Tamil Nadu. [caption id=“attachment_1410633” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  A man works on the Kundankulam Nuclear Power Plant in Tamil Nadu. AFP.[/caption] Both nations agreed to the “general agreement” on reactors three and four of the Kudankulam nuclear power project during the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission meeting chaired by External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid, and Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin in Delhi. Reviewing the rapid progress made on completion of reactor two, both sides hoped that it would be connected to the power grid before the end of the year. Talks concluded that the nuclear power plant will achieve its full capacity by April-May. The meeting also focused on nuclear, space, energy and economic cooperation. Sources said the discussions also encompassed possibilities of cooperating on space applications, including use of GLONASS, a global navigation satellite system, for tracking navigation of heavy trucks and other services. The two sides discussed the possibility of Russia being the partner in the India International Trade Fair in 2015. Both nations also agreed that holding the India Trade Show in Moscow this September would be an appropriate opportunity for major tie-ups for businesses of both sides. The possibility of export of Indian bovine meat to Russia was also an item of discussion, the sources said. IANS