Russia and India initialed an agreement earlier this month to construct another four reactors for the Koodankulam nuclear power plant in southern India.
"An agreement between Russia and India has been prepared on cooperation in the construction of additional power units at the Koodankulam NPP and at new sites to be designated," Alexander Maryasov said, adding that Moscow will be seeking to sign the new contract as soon as possible.
Atomstroyexport, Russia's nuclear power equipment and service export monopoly, is building the Koodankulam plant in line with an initial 1988 agreement between India and the Soviet Union, modified by an addendum signed ten years later.
However, Maryasov said the signing will take place only after restrictions on nuclear supplies and technology transfer to India are lifted and a safeguards deal with the International Atomic Energy Agency is signed.
A confirmed nuclear power, India has never been party to the 1968 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, and has been under U.S., Japanese and European sanctions since 1998, when it first tested atomic weapons.
Maryasov also urged for trade turnover between Russia and India, currently $5.3 billion, to almost double by 2010. "We have a goal to increase Russian-Indian trade turnover to $10 billion," he said.
