BHEL to supply n-equipment to state-run firms on priority

BHEL is committed to supply nuclear reactor equipment to state-run companies on a priority basis and its joint ventures with foreign firms will not lead to delays, Heavy Industries Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh told the Lok Sabha today.     

BHEL is totally committed to first supply equipment to state-run companies like the NPCIL, he said replying to supplementaries during the Question Hour.     

Seeking to allay members' concerns that BHEL's foreign collaborations would lead to delays in domestic deliveries, Deshmukh said none of the PSU's joint ventures with foreign companies had manufacturing units within the country.     

Deshmukh said BHEL had already manufactured and supplied some nuclear reactor components like steam generators, reactor headers and nuclear turbine generator sets to Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) for their 220 MWe and 550 MWe reactors.     

He said BHEL was also planning to manufacture nuclear turbines of 700 MW and above ratings.     

Deshmukh noted that BHEL had also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with NPCIL to form a joint venture company to carry out Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) activities on the secondary side of nuclear power plants of 700 MW and above rating within India and abroad.