India Signs Nuclear Energy Agreement with Russia
Russia and India on December 5, 2008, signed landmark agreements on issues ranging from nuclear energy to space exploration, as President Dmitry Medvedev met Indian leaders in a bid to bolster up associations. The agreements addressed the construction of four new nuclear energy reactors in Kudankulam in the southern state of Tamil Nadu, a cooperation agreement on a space flight manned by Indian astronauts, and a contract for Russia to supply 80 MI-17V-5 helicopters for the Indian Army.
In an announcement, the two countries concluded to hasten projects for joint development and production of Multi-Role Transport Aircraft and Fifth-Generation Fighter Aircraft and increase mutual trade volume to $10 billion by 2010…
“The signing of the agreement on civil nuclear cooperation with Russia marks a new milestone in the history of our cooperation with Russia in the field of nuclear energy,” Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told a joint press conference with President Medvedev.
The nuclear agreement was broached in January last year but had not been signed because of the requirement of a Nuclear Suppliers Group waiver and a safeguards agreement between India and the International Atomic Energy Agency that was not fulfilled until earlier this year.
Russia has become the third country to sign a nuclear energy accord with India after the United States and France.
Moscow is already constructing two 1,000-megawatt light water reactors at the Tamil Nadu site. The value of the new deal was not given.
The two sides also signed an accordance that envisages Russia sending Indian astronauts into space in 2013 and then launch a manned Indian spacecraft in 2015.
The string of accords emphasize that ties between Moscow and New Delhi – which date back to the Soviet Union – continue to be strong, despite India’s desire to also build relations with the United States.
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