GE Hitachi inks reactor deal with NPCL, BHEL

GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy, a joint venture between Japan's Hitachi Ltd and General Electric Co of the US, today said that it has signed initial pacts with the state-run Nuclear Power Corp of India Ltd and the Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd to build an advanced boiling water reactor power station in India.

Under the preliminary agreements, GEH will begin planning with NPCIL and BHEL the resources needed for manufacturing and construction management of the ABWR nuclear power station. However, the location of the project has not been specified, as the government continues to toss around various proposals.

"We are delighted at having signed these agreements and see it as a great opportunity to extend our existing footprint in nuclear energy in India," said Kishore Jayaraman, chief executive officer for GE Energy India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

The 1,350 MW ABWR is claimed to be the world's only commercially-proven third generation reactor design. The two government-owned companies are controlling India's efforts to expand nuclear power generation more than tenfold over the next two decades, from 4.1 gigawatts to 60 gw by 2032.

"These agreements will extend our existing footprint in nuclear energy in India,'' Jayaraman said. The MoUs were signed after GEH executives recently led a US nuclear industry delegation to India to explore opportunities for partnership in future nuclear plant projects.

India and the International Atomic Energy Agency signed a nuclear safeguards agreement last month in Vienna, representing a critical milestone in India's search for nuclear power enhancement.