By A Correspondent
Mumbai: In a major boost to India’s clean energy ambitions, Russian state-owned nuclear major Rosatom has said that its organisations are developing technical specifications for a new nuclear power plant in India featuring advanced VVER-1200 reactors.
The announcement follows high-level talks on Nov. 10, 2025, in Mumbai between Rosatom Director General Alexey Likhachev and Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) Chairman Ajit Kumar Mohanty, marking a significant expansion of Indo-Russian nuclear cooperation.
The VVER-1200 reactors, part of Russia’s Generation III+ design, are among the most advanced in the world, known for enhanced safety, efficiency, and operational flexibility.
This move signals India’s readiness to step up its nuclear power capacity beyond the 6,000 MW Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP) in Tamil Nadu, the cornerstone of India-Russia civil nuclear collaboration.
According to a Rosatom statement, both sides also discussed new areas of cooperation, particularly the construction of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) of Russian design in India.
These smaller, safer, and faster-to-deploy reactors could revolutionise energy access in remote and industrial regions where traditional large-scale plants are impractical.
Likhachev highlighted that the two countries share a “long-term and mutually beneficial partnership in the nuclear sphere,” adding that their joint experience from Kudankulam has established a robust supply chain and project ecosystem that now supports new ventures.
He reaffirmed Russia’s readiness to help India meet its ambitious goal of 100 GW nuclear capacity, offering proven technologies and reliable fuel support.
Currently, Units 1 and 2 of Kudankulam are operational, providing much-needed electricity to southern India. Unit 3 is in the final stages of pre-commissioning, Unit 4 is under construction, and Units 5 and 6 are part of the next phase of development.
Russia’s fuel company TVEL supplies Kudankulam with the new TVC-2M nuclear fuel, extending reactor operation cycles from 12 months to 18 months, improving efficiency, and reducing operational costs.
Importantly, discussions in Mumbai also focused on localisation of equipment manufacturing in India, enabling greater Indian industry participation and technology transfer.
This aligns with the government’s ‘Make in India’ initiative and strengthens domestic capabilities in high-precision nuclear engineering.
Recent reports confirm that Rosatom views India as a “strategic partner for large and small-scale nuclear projects,” especially amid shifting global energy alliances.
Likhachev noted that geopolitical and economic changes have created “new reasons and additional impetus” to accelerate nuclear cooperation, hinting at long-term commitments that may extend beyond civilian power projects to nuclear fuel-cycle development, and Research and Development collaboration.
Experts say the VVER-1200 project could be the template for future reactors in India, as New Delhi seeks to diversify energy sources and reduce dependence on coal.
The SMR technology, on the other hand, could become a game-changer for industrial corridors, islands, and defence applications, aligning with India’s twin goals of energy security and carbon neutrality.
Why This Matters:
- Marks the next phase of India–Russia nuclear cooperation after Kudankulam.
- Introduces VVER-1200 and SMR technologies to Indian soil.
- Boosts local manufacturing and skill development under ‘Make in India’.
- Enhances energy resilience and clean power goals amid rising demand.
- Reinforces India’s global standing as a nuclear-capable green power leader.
With both sides reaffirming their “readiness to implement new large-scale initiatives,” India and Russia are poised to enter a new era of strategic nuclear partnership, one that could redefine the global clean energy map in the coming decade.
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