Rafael Arutyunyan, first deputy director of Nuclear Safety Institute

— By completing the supplies of fuel supplies to India our country has fulfilled its obligations under the contract for the construction of Kudankulam NPP

As far as I know, 220 fuel assemblies containing 4.1%-enriched uranium-235 and weighing a total of 150 tons have been delivered to the construction site of Kudankulam NPP. This is enough for the initial launch of the 1st reactor and its refueling a year afterwards.

I would like to note that the construction is being carried out by the Indians themselves. I respect them for this as they are doing a very hard job. As far as I know, just 100 Russian engineers have been sent to Kudankulam – they are supervising the project. This proves that India is planning to develop its nuclear industry on a long-term basis and is learning to build NPPs itself based on the Russian experience.