Posted On : 17 May, 2017
Source : PTI
Place : New Delhi
Kudankulam N plant: GFA for units 5, 6 awaits PMO clearance

The General Framework Agreement (GFA) for units 5 and 6 of the plant in Tamil Nadu has already been cleared by an inter-ministerial group and is with the PMO for its nod, government sources said, suggesting that no final assurance has been given to the Russian side so far on whether the pact will be inked during Modi-Putin meeting in St Petersburg on June 1.
A GFA is the final agreement before a project can commence.
"After its evaluation by the inter-ministerial group, the proposal has now been sent to the PMO and is awaiting its green signal," a top government source said.
Significantly, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin was here last week to prepare the ground for the bilateral meet between the two leaders.
He co-chaired an inter-governmental commission meeting with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj where the two sides agreed to take forward collaborative projects in a range of sectors, including nuclear energy, and joint projects in third countries.
According to an October 2015 joint statement after a meeting between Modi and Putin, the two sides "reaffirmed" their intention to conclude the GFA and the Credit Protocol for Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP) units 5 and 6 by the end of 2016.
Government sources said the GFA between India and Russia was to be signed by December 2016. They also added that it was pending because the two sides had disagreement over credit protocol.
The delay also comes in the backdrop of concerns in India over growing proximity between Moscow and Islamabad. India also wants Russia to make more efforts to get New Delhi into the elite Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).
A part of the KKNPP project, units 5 and 6, with a capacity of 1000 MW each, are being built with Russian collaboration.
Unit 1 and 2 of the KKNPP are already operational.
In August 2016, Modi and Putin jointly dedicated Unit 2 of the plant to "India-Russia Friendship and Cooperation and witnessed the laying of foundation concrete for Kudankulam units 3 and 4 through video-link.
TOP NEWS
- China hails moves to appoint Aamir Khan as brand Ambassador to promote trade
- China-India trade volume witnesses 15 pc rise in Q1
- Uddhav seeks shifting of Nanar oil refinery proj to Vidarbha
- Hike in fare, parking fees 'will completely kill' Delhi metro: Kejriwal
- Indonesia oil well explosion kills 18, injures dozens
- NICPR-ICMR report recommends banning selling, import of smokeless tobacco products
- Kisan Morcha to hold meeting of dairy farmers over milk prices
- Civil Aviation Ministry could have a re-look into the high compensation
- Pakistan PM rejects three names proposed for new Islamabad airport
- 61% Indian IT managers clueless how bandwidth is being consumed: Sophos
- H1B approvals for Indian IT companies drop by 43% between 2015-17: Report
- Use MGNREGA funds for water conservation: PM to panchayats
- Need for India to do well on human development index: Kant
- Trump admin plans to propose end of work permits for spouses of H-1B visa holders
- States like Bihar, UP keeping India backward: NITI Aayog CEO
- Shiv Sena dares Maha CM to override its opposition to refinery
- World will hear positive voices against protectionism at Modi-Xi summit: China
- 'Duty Free' shops at Delhi int'l airport liable to pay GST: AAR
- Twitter co-founder invests in Delhi-based health start-up that rides on AI
- New industrial policy to up investment, mfg share in GDP: Prabhu
- Railways operating ratio indicates failure of its management: Chidambaram
- Cabinet approves Fugitive Economic Offenders Ordinance 2018
- US calls on IMF and WB to develop a joint action plan on debt transparency and sustainability
- Cash crunch: I-T says 97 pc of poll seizures in Ktaka in high-denomination notes
- Big reforms made India fastest growing major economies globally: Garg
- Oil spill: TN Govt begins disbursal of compensation to fishermen
- Breakdown in trade relations among major players could threaten ongoing economic expansion : WTO
- IMF expects India's role to expand in Indo-Pacific region
- PM Modi holds talks with German Chancellor Merkel on bilateral, global issues