Corporate majors bet big on nuclear power

24 July 2008

Mumbai: Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL), Reliance Power and  Larsen & Toubro along with Nuclear Power Corporation Ltd (NPCIL) are expected to invest around Rs100,000 crore in nuclear power generation over the next five years.

NPCIL, which currently manages all state-sector nuclear power plants, will invest Rs80,000 crore to double its capacity with an additional 10,000 MW during the 11th Plan period - 2007-12.

The nuclear power major is also implementing six additional units, with a capacity of 3,160 MW. These include expansion of the Rawatbhata station in Rajasthan (2X220 MW), Kaiga in Karnataka (220 MW) and Kudankulam in Tamil Nadu (2 x1,000 MW).

NPCIL will further increase capacity of its Kudankulam project (Kudankulam 3-6) under an agreement with the Russian government. It will also set up a 1,000-MW reactor in Jaithalpur, Maharashtra.

BHEL, the country's biggest power equipment maker, plans to triple spending on nuclear components to Rs1,500 crore in two years once overseas companies are allowed to supply technology.

BHEL will partner overseas companies to set up a 50-50 venture with NPCIL to supply components for nuclear plants with a capacity to generate 700 MW, 1,000 MW and 1,600 MW.