GE Hitachi in talks with BHEL, Bharat Forge for nuke equipment

Hoping to get the US government's nod to go ahead with its business in India, GE Hitachi has begun talks with domestic companies like BHEL, Bharat Forge and Larsen & Toubro for making atomic power equipment.

"We are talking to several vendors -- BHEL, Bharat Forge and L&T for manufacturing castings and forgings for the nuclear power plants," GE Hitachi Senior Vice-President (Nuclear Plant Projects) Daniel L.Roderick told reporters here.

Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has already signed an agreement with Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL) for manufacturing nuke power equipment.

"We want a reliable component supplier, we want them (L&T-NPCIL) to make forgings for us...As we are the technology provider," Roderick said.

"If we are able to receive approvals from the US government next year, the first unit can only be commissioned by 2018-19 and after that every two years new units would follow," he said. The company would manufacture 1,500 Mw and above units for the nuclear power projetcts in India.

GE Hitachi hopes to feed more than half of its clientele by manufacturing the castings and forgings in India.

"50-70 per cent of the equipment can be made here for both India and international market," he said adding that manufacturing here can save as much as 50 per cent cost.