India is negotiating a deal with Russia to supply nuclear fuel and core components for the Kudankulam nuclear power plant, the Times of India reported on August 13, citing informed sources. The deal is estimated to be worth 105 billion rupees ($1.2 billion).

The Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant is being built with Russian assistance. It currently has two operational units with a capacity of 1,000 MW each. It is the main power source for the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu and other neighboring states.

The first two units of the plant went online in 2013 and 2016. Units 3 and 4 are currently being completed. Agreements between Moscow and New Delhi for the final two units 5 and 6 were signed in December 2023 when Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar visited Russia.

Once completed, it is expected to be India’s largest nuclear power plant with a capacity of 6,000 MW. Under the agreement, TVEL, a fuel company owned by Russia’s Rosatom, will supply fuel, control rods and fuel assembly testing tools for units 3 and 4 of the Kudankulam plant from 2025 to 2033.

India is also considering a joint venture with Rosatom to produce nuclear fuel domestically to boost its capacity. Russia and India have cooperated in the nuclear industry for decades.

Ahead of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Moscow in July, Bloomberg reported, citing senior officials, that India could reach a deal with Russia for long-term uranium supplies.