US, Russian firms keen to join Bhel

Close on the heels of the US lifting ban on the supply of nuclear fuel and equipment to India, a number of American, Russian And French companies have approached power equipment giant Bhel for developing and deploying technology for nuclear power projects in India.

"Some American, Russian and French companies have approached us. We are talking to them.... We may tie up with some foreign companies to enhance our capabilities," Bhel Chairman and Managing Director AK Puri said. Gung-ho about the prospects of nuclear power generation over the next two-three years, Puri said by next year Bhel would clinch a technical tie up with one of the companies from the developed world.

Asked about the names of the companies which have evinced interest in the Indian power sector, he said "we are talking to four companies," but did not elaborate. Detailing the programme of upgrading nuclear technology, he said till now the corporation was supplying equipment to nuclear power corporation for its projects but "we could not talk much about it."

"Now we can show case our capabilities with many other power generator evincing interest in the nuclear power project these generator are not equipment producer and naturally Bhel as a major supplier will have a significant role," he said.

Puri said while the corporation would be bidding for the two upcoming projects of 1,000 Mw and 700 Mw of nuclear power corporation, it is also in the process of upgrading its equipment production and technology base, a move that will entail an investment of about Rs 250 crore.

After the US had agreed in July during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to America to increase cooperation in civilian nuclear energy, various power generation companies including the NTPC and Reliance Energy had evinced interest in venturing into nuclear power.

Although Bhel is equipped with facilities to participate in the process of developing nuclear projects, it has taken up upgradation at some of its manufacturing facilities like Hardwar, Bhopal and Trichipalli.

Most of the infrastructure was already in place only enhancement of existing facilities would be required to meet the demand from nuclear power developers, he said.

Bhel may invite proposal for technical tie-up for domestic projects soon, Puri said ruling out to participate in the overseas nuclear power projects immediately. "We see sufficient potential here. We shall be participating in the process of nuclear power development in a big way," Puri said. Even in the existing nuclear power facilities of nuclear power corporation, Puri said, Bhel had a role to play.

"We have been manufacturing and providing nuclear power equipments till now to nuclear power corporation. Now if new players come we shall provide equipments to them too," he added. The tie-up with a foreign partner, Puri said, would be for manufacturing equipments worth 700 Mw and 1000 Mw. Bhel already has capacity to manufacture up to 500 Mw equipment.