NPCIL in talks with GE Hitachi for 6 nuclear reactors: report
12 Sep 2009
The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) is in talks with GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy for acquiring reactors for 6 nuclear power plants, reports quoting sources at GE Hitachi said today.
Reuters quoted GE Hitachi's vice president of new plant projects Danny Roderick as saying that the company planned to supply advanced boiling water reactors (ABWRs) of up to 9 gigawatts capacity to India and that it was awaiting regulatory clearance for the deal.
He was speaking on the sidelines of the annual meeting of the World Nuclear Association (WNA) in London. The WNA symposium is the nuclear industry's premier event - an annual conference attended by over 700 leaders and specialists from more than 30 countries. The symposium brings together the nuclear industry and its major stakeholders to discuss the practicalities of a new nuclear generation.
NPCL and GE Hitachi have been in talks since January this year and the Indian nuclear power utility and the US conglomerate are waiting for clearance from their respective governments and regulatory authorities.
GE Hitachi is currently building four ABWRs - a third generation reactor - including two in Taiwan and two in Japan, reports said.
NPCIL currently has operating nuclear power units at Tarapur - units 1&2 (2x160 MWe BWRs), Tarapur - units 3&4 (2x540 MWe PHWRs), Rajasthan - units 1-4 (100 MWe, 200 MWe and 2x220 MWe PHWRs), Madras - units 1&2 (2x220 MWe PHWRs), Narora - units 1&2 (2x220 MWe PHWRs), Kakrapar - units 1&2 (2x220 MWe PHWRs) and Kaiga - units 1 to 3 (3x220 MWe PHWRs).
