1,400-Mw nuclear plant on anvil in MP

The BHEL-Nuclear Power Corporation India Ltd (NPCIL) joint venture has reached an advanced stage of talks with the technology partner for a 1,400-Mw nuclear power plant in the state. BHEL has also decided to expand the capacity of its existing Bhopal plant, said a top executive of the company. The joint venture has decided to set up the plant in Chutka (near Jabalpur).

“The three partners will hold 33 per cent each in the venture, but an agreement to this effect will be signed after finalising the third partner,” said a top executive in BHEL. The site in Chutka is in close proximity of Narmada river in Mandla district, which is a tribal dominated area.

“We will set up two units of 700 Mw each and will soon start expansion work for a new block of nuclear turbine in Bhopal,” executive director of BHEL Bhopal unit MK Dubey told Business Standard. He, however, refused to name the partner but said, “There are only two companies in fray and very soon we will join hands with one of them.”

BHEL and NPCIL had signed a deal in 2008 to form a joint venture on providing engineering, procurement and construction services in the nuclear power sector. If set up, the first nuclear power station in the state assumes significance owing to demand supply gap of power over 1,500 Mw this year, where demand touched 7,700 Mw and supply stayed at 6,000 Mw. Besides, coal shortage has also been posing a challenge before the government to run its thermal power stations.

The state government has made Madhya Pradesh Power Generating Company Limited (MPPGCL) the nodal agency to facilitate the execution of the project.

Buoyed up with its Rs 600 crore profit (before tax) this year the BHEL’s Bhopal unit has decided to invest a handsome amount in the new block which will start taking shape from this year. “The new block will be in close proximity of our existing unit and we are likely to invest around Rs 500 crore for nuke power station turbines,” Dubey added.