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Russia Begins Fuel Deliveries for Kudankulam Unit 3 as Leaders Broaden Nuclear Ties

The first batch enables initial loading under a lifetime supply contract, setting up a 2026 start to commissioning.

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Sea waves hit the rocks as Kudankulam nuclear power project plant is seen in the background in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu September 13, 2012. File Image/Reuters
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Overview

  • The initial consignment arrived by specialised cargo flight carrying assemblies made at Rosatom’s Novosibirsk Chemical Concentrates Plant.
  • A total of seven flights are planned to complete the reactor core and reserve fuel under a 2024 pact covering lifetime supply for Units 3 and 4.
  • The TVS-2M fuel model enables 18‑month refuelling cycles for VVER‑1000 units, reducing outages and boosting output.
  • Rosatom chief Alexey Likhachev said commissioning operations for Unit 3 will begin in 2026, with Units 3–6 coming online in successive years.
  • India and Russia agreed to deepen civil nuclear cooperation, including SMRs, lifecycle support for Kudankulam, and steps toward allotting a second site for Russian-designed reactors in India.