RUSSIA TRANSFERS TO INDIA FIRST NUCLEAR REACTOR FOR KUDANKULAM POWER PROJECT

2005-01-21 20:27 *INDIA * RUSSIA * NUKE * REACTOR * TRANSFER *
RUSSIA TRANSFERS TO INDIA FIRST NUCLEAR REACTOR FOR KUDANKULAM POWER PROJECT

NEW DELHI, January 21 (RIA Novosti's Natalia Shishlo) - Russia has passed to India a nuclear reactor for the first unit of the Kudankulam nuclear power project in Tamil Nadu. The reactor was manufactured by the OAO Izhora Factories in St.Petersburg, Russian Consul General Mikhail Mgeladze told RIA Novosti on Friday.

At the official ceremony of passing the reactor, Anil Kakodkar, chairman of the Nuclear Energy Commission and secretary of the Nuclear Energy Department at the Indian government, noted that work on the Kudankulam project is to the schedule. He thanked the Russian side for the timely production and delivery of the 320-tonne nuclear reactor for the plant's first unit. Mr. Anil Kakodkar recalled that 27,000 tonnes of equipment for the project had earlier been supplied from Russia.

The Kudankulam is working to build, with Russian assistance, two power units with VVER-1000 (water-moderated) reactors of 1,000 megawatts each. The first will be commissioned in 2007, second in 2008.

Mr.Anil Kakodkar noted the reliability and safety of Russian equipment, the reactors' degree of protection from calamities, tsunami, hurricanes and air catastrophes.

He said that during the December 26 tsunami the ship carrying the Russian reactor was in open sea off the Indian shores. No damage has been done to the equipment.

In turn, Mikhail Mgeladze voiced the hope that electricity supply to four south Indian states will greatly improve with the start-up of the power unit in 2007-2008.

The nuclear power reactor reached India on January 15, the Russian diplomat said.