The first batch of Russian nuclear fuel has been delivered to India for the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project. The construction of the plant, which is a joint venture between Russia and India, is nearing completion.
India currently cannot freely purchase fuel or any equipment for production of nuclear energy, because the country is not a member of Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Kudankulam is an exception since its construction deal was signed 20 years ago with the USSR which at the time wasn’t an approved nuclear supplier. Russia’s Atomstroyexport has been building two reactors for the Kudankulam plant in India’s state of Tamil Nadu since 2002. In February 2008 the two countries signed a new agreement to construct four more reactors for the plant. In accordance with the agreement, Russia is obliged to supply nuclear fuel for the reactors and the re-export of used uranium.