Bharat Heavy Electricals, a state-owned state-owned company, and Nuclear Power Corporation have signed an initial agreement to pursue business opportunities in nuclear power based on pressurized heavy water reactor technology. Under the terms of the agreement, BHEL and NPCIL will jointly explore the possibilities for the development of nuclear energy projects to reduce the gestation period of projects.
"State-run PSUs Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL) and Bharat Heavy Electricals (BHEL) have entered into a MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) to jointly pursue business opportunities in the field of nuclear power plants based on Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR) technology," a statement said.
The MoU was signed in Niti Aayog by BHEL CMD Nalin Shinghal and Bhuwan Chandra Pathak, CMD - NPCIL in the presence of VK Saraswat (member - NITI Aayog), KN Vyas (secretary - Ministry of Atomic Energy, chairman - Commission for Atomic Energy) and Kamran Rizvi (secretary - Ministry of Heavy Industries). Senior officials from the Ministry of Atomic Energy, the Ministry of Heavy Industry, BHEL and NPCIL were also present.
BHEL is a leading manufacturer of power plant equipment (nuclear, hydro, thermal and renewables) and the only Indian company that has been actively involved in all three phases of India's nuclear program (first phase PHWR, second phase FBR and third phase AHWR), providing sustainable and customer-oriented solutions for more than five decades.
The steam turbine generator set for Unit 1 (220 MW) of npcil's Kaiga nuclear power plant in Karnataka set a world record of 962 days of continuous operation in December 2018, demonstrating the best integrated performance of the nuclear reactor and turbine system.
NPCIL is the only Indian organization responsible for the design, construction and operation of thermal nuclear power plants in India, operating 22 commercial nuclear power plants and having over 580 years of reactor experience in safe operation.
Cooperation between the two major public companies will pave the way for the early implementation of non-polluting and long-cycle nuclear projects, complementing the G20 theme of environmental sustainability and contributing to a cleaner and greener future.