TIRUNELVELI: Russian Minister for Atomic Energy Sergey V. Kirienko on Monday gave the assurance that Moscow would supply fuel for the reactors being built at Koodankulam throughout their life.

"Fuel for the first reactor would reach the site in the second quarter of this year. Without violating the Nuclear Proliferation Treaty, we'll ensure fuel supply for the reactors," he told reporters here after inspecting the Reactor Pressure Vessel installed in the first reactor. He expressed the hope that there would not be any pressure from the Nuclear Suppliers Group against fuel supply for the Koodankulam Nuclear Power Project (KKNPP).

On the signing of a memorandum with Russia on construction of the third and fourth nuclear reactors at Koodankulam, Atomic Energy Commission Chairman and Atomic Energy Secretary K. Anil Kakodkar, said, "We'll let you know once the deal is finalised."

The Russian Minister held discussions with officials of the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited, including Chairman and Managing Director S.K. Jain, Director (Projects) S.K. Agrawal and Project Director K.C. Purohit, on the cooperation between the countries in nuclear power generation. Mr. Jain said the first reactor would attain criticality in 2008 and electricity would start flowing from the second reactor six months after the first one commenced generation.

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