BHEL plans JV with Alstom for nuke project

State-run Bharat Heavy Electricals (BHEL) is in talks with Alstom for a joint venture to manufacture nuclear power plant equipment. A team from the French power equipment major will visit India next month to carry forward the negotiations.

"We are talking to Alstom for partnership for nuclear power plant equipment. It could be either in the form of technology transfer or a joint venture," A K Puri, chairman and managing director, BHEL, told PTI.

Puri was part of the Indian team that held discussions with a high-level business delegation from France, that included representatives from Alstom.

Asked what kind of investments could flow in for manufacturing nuclear power equipments, he said: "The details are being worked out; money, though, is not a constraint."

As India moves ahead on civil nuclear power plans after an agreement with the US, having this technology would open huge opportunities for BHEL.

BHEL had recently entered into a technology-transfer agreement with Alstom for building 800MW super-critical thermal power production units.