10 more nuclear reactors to be built with Russian support

Russia will assist India in building at least 10 more nuclear reactors. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced this after talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in New Delhi.

“We have outlined an ambitious vision for nuclear energy of at least 10 more reactors,” Modi said at a press briefing. “It will have the highest standards of safety in the world. It will also include manufacture of equipment and components in India,” he said. Russia has supplied two reactors to a plant at Kudankulam in southern India under a long-delayed agreement, and has been pushing to supply many more after deals were signed in 2010 and 2008.

The two countries on Thursday signed 16 agreements including a deal for Russia to manufacture in India one of its most advanced helicopters and a proposal to set up factories to make Russian spare parts for military equipment.

Russia has traditionally supplied 70 per cent of India’s military hardware. India, whose domestic industry struggles to manufacture high-tech arms, is in the middle of a defence spending binge. Total bilateral trade stands at just $10 billion a year despite strong Russia-India ties that date back to the 1950s after the death of Stalin.