Russia delivers first batch of nuclear fuel to India

Moscow, Apr 11- Under a multi-million dollar long-term nuclear fuel supply deal between Moscow and New Delhi, Russia has delivered the first batch of 30 metric tonnes of uranium pellets to India.

“Thirty metric tonnes of pellets have been delivered to Hyderabad-based Nuclear Fuel Complex for the production of fuel for ‘Rajasthan’ NPP,” Russia’s ‘Atomenergoprom’ said in a statement.

Under the USD 700 million contract inked between Russia’s TVEL Corporation and India’s Department of Atomic Energy in February, this is the first batch of Uranium Dioxide pellets delivered to Nuclear Fuel Complex.

One of the largest nuclear fuel producers in the world, TVEL is a wholly owned subsidiary of ‘Atomenergoprom’.

Under the deal, it would supply the uranium pellets to fuel pressurised heavy water reactors (PHWR) in India.
TVEL would also ensure life-cycle supply of fuel for the light-water VVER reactors of the Kudankulam nuclear power plant in Tamil Nadu.

Russia is currently completing the assembly of first two VVER-1000 reactors with total two Megawatt capacity at Kudankulam. Under the deal inked in December 2008 during President Dmitry Medvedev’s maiden India visit, Russia will build four more reactors to meet India’s growing energy requirements.

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