OK, so the Russians are not waiting till December to talk NPPs in India. (But of course they wouldn’t… Would you?)

The statement released by Rosatom is quite priceless…

“It was an absolutely right decision and Russia was one of its initiators,” Kiriyenko said. He pointed out that the United States was of the same opinion. “This is an example of mutual understanding between Russian and American nuclear power engineers.”

As an aside, this is sort of the same point on U.S.-Russian “nuclear cooperation” on India that was made in a great op-ed in The Hindu by CNS’s William Potter. NOT.

Anyway, Atomstroyexport head Leonid Reznikov is scheduled to visit India in late October to discuss the 4 new Kudankulam units. (According to Interfax, Atomstroyexport is also interested in cooperation with the Indian steel industry.)

Indian officials reportedly expect construction at Kudankulam to commence this year or in 2009. And they’re apparently ready.

In the last months NPCIL has actively worked to prepare area for the new reactors: it has been building infrastructure: roads, power networks, houses for constructors. The next stage is digging the foundation pit.

I should note that I learned something else today. Apparently, the units at Kudankulam are “protected from possible earthquakes, hurricanes, air crashes.” Moreover, “The two existing units, located on the Indian Ocean coast, have already survived a tsunami — the wave was stopped by a special wave cutter.”

Ooh… A special wave cutter… I want one too.