Alstom may partner BHEL-NPCIL joint venture

State-run Bharat Heavy Electricals (BHEL) is believed to have finalised France's Alstom as the technological partner for its proposed joint venture with Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL) to undertake nuclear power projects.

"The global technology partner in the proposed BHEL-NPCIL JV in all likelihood would be Alstom," a source close to the development said.

Alstom's induction is likely to be formally announced next month. The technological partner may be offered equity in the JV, but details were not available.

State-run power equipment maker BHEL and NPCIL signed an agreement in April 2008 to form a joint venture for providing engineering, procurement and construction services in nuclear power sector.

BHEL is focusing on nuclear power generation and is exploring technology tie-ups for manufacturing turbine and generator sets. The turbines would be manufactured at the company's Bhopal unit.

The company is manufacturing nuclear heat exchangers for the JV company, which has already tied-up with GE-Hitachi for making nuke reactors.