The entry of Russia’s VVER-1200 MW nuclear reactor into India marks the next major phase in the long-standing nuclear cooperation between the two countries. This reactor is a more powerful and technologically advanced design compared to the VVER-1000 reactors currently being built in India.
Here are the full details:
⚡ The VVER-1200 Reactor Project for India
The plan to deploy the VVER-1200 is part of the larger strategic vision between Russia’s state-run nuclear corporation, Rosatom, and India’s Department of Atomic Energy (DAE).1
1. New Nuclear Power Plant
- Project Status: Rosatom recently confirmed that Russian organizations are actively developing technical specifications for a new nuclear power plant (NPP) in India that will feature the advanced VVER-1200 reactor units.2
- Location: While a final site is not formally confirmed in the latest statements, the VVER-1200 is widely expected to be deployed at the second site allocated to Russia, which has historically been discussed as a location like Kavali in Andhra Pradesh.
- Significance: The move is intended to be the serial construction of high-capacity nuclear power units of Russian design in India, meaning multiple units will be built in the future.3
2. The VVER-1200: A Generation III+ Reactor4
The VVER-1200 (also known as the AES-2006 design) is an evolution of the VVER-1000 reactors currently installed at the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP).5
| Feature | VVER-1000 (at Kudankulam) | VVER-1200 (New Project) |
| Gross Power | $\approx 1,000$ MWe | $\approx 1,200$ MWe (20% increase) |
| Generation | Generation III (AES-92) | Generation III+ (AES-2006) |
| Service Life | $\approx 40$ years | $60$ years (Extended life) |
| Refueling Cycle | 12 months | 18 months (Improves efficiency/uptime) |
3. Enhanced Safety Features
As a Generation III+ reactor, the VVER-1200 incorporates state-of-the-art active and passive safety systems that meet post-Fukushima requirements:
- Passive Safety Systems: These systems operate without the need for active pumps or human intervention (relying on natural forces like gravity or convection) and are designed to function even in the event of a complete power loss (Station Blackout).
- Core Catcher: It is equipped with a Core Melt Localization Device (CMLD), also known as a “core catcher,” installed beneath the reactor vessel. This device is designed to localize and cool molten core material in the highly unlikely event of a severe accident, preventing radioactive release into the environment.
- Double Containment: The design includes two protective shells with a ventilated space between them. The external shell is designed to resist natural disasters (earthquakes, floods, tornadoes) and man-made accidents (like an aircraft crash).
🤝 Broader Cooperation
The VVER-1200 announcement comes amidst a strengthening of nuclear ties between India and Russia:
- Kudankulam Status: Russia continues construction on the remaining four units (Units 3, 4, 5, and 6) of the Kudankulam NPP in Tamil Nadu, which uses the VVER-1000 design.
- Small Modular Reactors (SMRs): The two sides are also discussing a new area of cooperation: the construction of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) of Russian design in India, which would support India’s goal of rapidly increasing its nuclear power capacity.
- Localization: Rosatom has expressed readiness to increase the localization of equipment production in India, aligning with India’s “Make in India” initiative.
