Modi, Putin dedicate Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant dedicated to the nation

New Delhi/ Kudankulam : “The Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project is an icon of the historic friendship between India and Russia. The coming years will see the setting up of more such big Nuclear Power Projects in collaboration with Russia,” said Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India as he dedicated the Unit 1 of the Project to the nation, during a ceremony held at Kudankulam in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday. It was through video conferencing that the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ms Jaylalitha, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, all participated in the function.

“This project is a symbol of the friendship between Russia and India as also that of the co-operation shared by the two nations in the field of Nuclear Power making the dedication of Unit 1 to the nation, a historic event.” said Narendra Modi, adding that this project was also dedicated to the friendship and the cooperation between Russia and India. Besides, the Prime Minister assured that this was one of the safest Nuclear Power Plants. He expressed trust that the coming times would see the cooperation between Russia and India in the field of Nuclear Power strengthen manifold. The Russian President Putin whilst speaking on the occasion through the video conferencing, said that the Project was based on advanced technology, adding also that Russia, a forerunner in the field of Nuclear Power Technology, would extend help in this field to India in the future too.

Meanwhile, the Unit 2 of the Kudankulam Project now in the final stages, is expected to become operational by the end of this year. India had entered into an agreement with Soviet Russia in 1988 to erect the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant. But in the wake of the disintegration of the USSR and the resultant political and economic upheavals, the project could only start in the year 1997. The project was then held up due to the opposition it had to meet with in India. The Unit 1 had therefore to face further delay until finally it started producing electricity in October, 2013. Initially 300 MW of electricity were being produced and till date 6,498 million units of electricity have been produced by this unit. After the dedication ceremony the unit will produce to its full capacity.

Although half of the electricity produced by the Kudanukulam Plant will be supplied to Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Pondicherry will also receive the benefits of the power produced by the plant