Global power equipment major Alstom will tie up with Bhel to supply turbines for Nuclear Power Corporation’s (NPCIL) 700-mw pressurised heavy water reactors (PHWR) based nuclear power plants. A tripartite joint venture (JV) agreement between the French company, Bhel and NPCIL will be signed soon, a senior executive of Alstom Power said.
NPCIL is setting up 700-mw PHWR based nuclear power plants at various places including Kakrapar in Gujarat and Rawatbhata in Rajasthan.
While NPCIL has prepared design for 700-mw nuclear reactors, the design for turbine generators of this size is not available in the country. Given that, NPCIL invited expressions of interest (EoI) from technology suppliers for the turbine generators. Alstom submitted its offer in response to the EoI.
NPCIL has already signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Bhel for setting up a joint venture company. Alstom will be the third partner in the envisaged JV.
?We are currently in the process of finalising the joint venture,? Guy Chardon, senior vice-president, Alstom Power, told FE.
?It was a very complex process. But we have the feeling that the JV will be signed soon,? he added. ?There is a division of work between Alstom and Bhel,? Chardon clarified. However, the bulk of manufacturing is likely to be undertaken by Bhel initially as Alstom does not have manufacturing facility for the nuclear turbine generators.
The JV will have to secure approval of the department of atomic energy.
Meanwhile, Alstom has formed a consortium with Areva to bid for equipment supply to NPCIL’s Jaitapur project in Maharashtra to be based on European Pressurized Reactors (EPR). While Areva will supply reactors for the project, turbine generators will come from Alstom. NPCIL has installed capacity of 4,500 mw. Meanwhile, it has envisaged adding 63,000 mw capacity by 2032. Activities in the domestic nuclear sector have picked up after the Indian parliament accorded its approval to the Nuclear Liability Bill recently.