Brighton plans Rs 2,880-cr Hyd power equip unit

In a major boost to the state's industrialisation efforts, US-based Brighton Group has proposed to set up a Rs 2,880 crore ($600 million) nuclear power equipment manufacturing facility near the port-town of Visakhapatnam.

"Brighton will invest Rs 2,880 crore and provide direct employment to 2,500 highly-skilled personnel...And indirect employment to another 10,000. The proposed plant will be set up on 800 acres at Nakkapalli in Visakhapatnam district," Major Industries Minister Geeta Reddy said after a meeting with the company President and CEO Kit Kung.

Reddy said Brighton President and Chief Executive Officer Kit Kung had met her and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy this morning to discuss the project.

Found in 1980s by Kung, Brighton Group is a heavy equipment and forged steel producer that manufactures forged steel components used in third generation nuclear power plants, besides conventional power plants, ship-building and petrochemicals.

"In the next five years, as many as one lakh people will get employment, both direct and indirect, with the setting up of Brighton facility as well as several ancillary units," she said.

Brighton has sought Special Economic Zone status for their facility which would be ready for commercialisation in 24-30 months, she said. The Government of Andhra Pradesh and Brighton would sign a memorandum of understanding for the project in the next two weeks.

Kit Kung said they were currently operating a similar plant in China where large nuclear reactor units were manufactured.