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.

NPCIL is likely to locate most of its power plants in coastal areas as large equipment for reactors can be shipped into country easily. A site selection committee of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) has recommended four sites in the coastal areas of Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and West Bengal for setting up the plants.

Engineering major Larsen and Toubro (L&T) is all set to enter nuclear energy sector, with plans to manufacture nuclear reactors, while state-rum BHEL plans to make reactor components.

Anil Ambani-led Reliance Power, which is setting up 28,000 mw of thermal power capacity, has planned initial investment over Rs20,000 crore in nuclear power generation.

Reliance Power is already negotiating joint ventures and strategic alliances in nuclear power generation, technology and equipment with leading companies overseas.

At present, India has 17 nuclear power plants with a total installed capacity of 4,120 MW.  All these are, however, operating below capacity.

Capacity utilisation by existing plants are expected to go up from 50 per cent to around 90 per cent with increased availability of nuclear fuel.