BHEL to expand market for nuclear reactor turbines
21 Dec 2011
State-run power plant equipment maker Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) is looking beyond the current joint venture with Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd and Alstom of France to expand its market overseas.
BHEL, which had earlier proposed a joint venture with National Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) and Alstom for execution of conventional 700 MWe nuclear power plants, is further making efforts to associate with other international nuclear reactor vendors for possible cooperation to manufacture the components of higher size reactors, minister for heavy industries Praful Patel said.
In February 2011, BHEL had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with NPCIL and Alstom for formation of a joint venture for execution of conventional (island) turbines of nuclear power plants of 700 MWe and above.
Earlier, in January 2011, BHEL had signed an MoU with GE-Hitachi (USA) for possible cooperation to manufacture components of higher size reactors (1000 MWe and above).
Based on the MoU signed between BHEL, NPCIL and Alstom to form a joint venture company, BHEL has received orders for manufacture and supply of steam turbine generator package in consortium with Alstom for 2x700 MWe nuclear power plant of NPCIL at Kakrapar units 3 and 4.
For this, BHEL and Alstom are manufacturing and supplying steam turbine components, with the balance equipment, including erection and commissioning being undertaken by BHEL.
BHEL will be manufacturing steam turbine components based on manufacturing drawings given by Alstom, he added.