Russia to seal energy partnership deals with India

Russian President Dmitri Medvedev will arrive in New Delhi to wrap up agreements in areas that include nuclear energy and hydrocarbons.

He will hold formal talks with Manmohan Singh Tuesday morning – which will the eleventh edition of the annual bilateral summits which started with declaration of strategic partnership in 2000, according to reports by the Asian Tribune.

India and Russia are set to sign over a dozen agreements including key pacts on building more Russia-aided nuclear reactors.

External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vishnu Prakash described nuclear energy and hydrocarbons as the "twin pillars for long-term strategic energy partnership" between India and Russia.
Earlier, Russian envoy to India, Alexander Kadakin said Russia was upbeat about building 14-16 nuclear reactors in India over the next few years, but asked New Delhi to bring its civilian nuclear liability legislation in line with global norms.

The two countries would ink an accord under which Russia would set up two more 1,000 MW units at Kudankulam, Kadakin had stated.