BHEL looks for international partners

01 October 2007

[Economic Times, 1 October] India's Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) is reportedly in talks with international power equipment companies to establish a joint venture in the country to manufacture high-end nuclear power plant equipment. The move is aimed at giving the company a head-start over competition after the nuclear power market opens up assuming the US-India nuclear cooperation deal proceeds. BHEL chairman and managing director Ashok K Puri said, "The company is engaged in initial discussions with major global players including GE, Areva and Siemens. Once there is clarity on policy framework, we would like to form a JV company with one of these manufacturers." In order to achieve its goal of obtaining 10% of India's electricity from nuclear power plants by 2030, the government is expected to allow private sector companies to enter nuclear power generation and also allow nuclear equipment manufacturers to establish plants in the country. BHEL is said to have supplied more than 60% of equipment used in India's existing nuclear power plants. In April it was reported that French engineering group Alstom was in talks with BHEL about an alliance covering conventional islands of nuclear plants. Alstom already has a technology sharing agreement with BHEL covering coal-fired power plants.

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Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd

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