Following the success of the Kudankulam project in Tamil Nadu, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday conveyed New Delhi's willingness to consider construction of additional nuclear reactors by Russia in view of India's growing energy demand.
"The prime minister conveyed India's willingness to consider positively construction of additional reactors by Russia in view of our growing energy needs," External Affairs Ministry Spokesman Navtej Sarna said after the meeting Singh had with Russia's Energy and Industry Minister Viktor Khristenko.
Both sides also agreed to promote commercial cooperation among each other's oil companies through various measures including floating of joint ventures and equity participation.
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The Russian minister welcomed India's interest to invest in Sakhalin III oil and gas project and other areas.
They also discussed ways and means to increase investment in aluminium and steel industries and hydroelectric and thermal power stations.
The prime minister said India and Russia must develop long-term energy partnership and expressed India's keenness to join Russia in exploration and production of oil and gas in third countries specially those in Central Asia, Sarna said.
Earlier, speaking at a joint meeting of Indian and Russian businessmen, Singh said both nations should expand joint operations in the energy sector to third countries, adding that talks between Indian and Russian oil companies would soon yield concrete results.
Complete coverage of Dr Singh's visit
