Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) expects a possible increase in orders for atomic power projects based on the indigenous reactor technology than what was originally envisaged.

This comes amid anticipated delays in the setting up of projects based on imported reactor technologies, forcing the Government to scale up its mainstay PHWR (pressurised heavy water reactor) technology in order to get anywhere close to reaching its target of 20,000 MWe by 2020.

The state-owned equipment major, which is in advanced stages of rolling out a venture with Nuclear Power Corporation (NPCIL) and French major Alstom for executing the conventional island portion (or the non-reactor part) of upcoming indigenous technology-based projects, sees itself “well placed” for the emerging opportunity.

“We (the venture with NPCIL and Alstom) have got orders for two units… There are indications now that we could go beyond the total of eight units expected earlier as there could be delays in (projects based on) the imported technologies. BHEL is well placed for the opportunity,” said Mr B.P. Rao, Chairman and Managing Director, BHEL. In view of the emerging prospects in the nuclear business, BHEL is ramping up its capacity further at its Bhopal facility.

India has a nuclear capacity of 4,780 MWe at present. Expectations of delays in setting up imported Light Water Reactor (LWR)-based projects comes in the wake of a recent decision of the Nuclear Suppliers Group to tighten the rules governing the transfer of sensitive enrichment and reprocessing technologies to countries such as India that are not signatories of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, according to experts.

Besides, issues related to liability of foreign equipment suppliers are also being cited as possible roadblocks.

Under the tripartite agreement, NPCIL will place all orders related to 700 MWe units on the joint venture with BHEL and Alstom, which will manufacture turbines and undertake engineering, procurement and construction activities for upcoming projects.

In April, the consortium bagged a Rs 1,600-crore order from NPCIL for supplying steam turbine generators for two 700 MW units in Kakrapar, Gujarat. Plans for four 700 MWe pressurised heavy water reactor units in Bargi in Madhya Pradesh and another two in Kumharia in Haryana are on the anvil.

Besides these units, NPCIL is in talks for importing LWRs ranging from 1,000 MWe to 1,650 MWe from Russia, France and the US, which are to be deployed at six coastal sites across the country.

Related Topics
comment COMMENT NOW