The government controlled power equipment manufacturer (BHEL) is all set to rope in Alstom as the third partner in its existing joint venture (JV) for developing nuclear power plants. The promoters may offer up to 35% equity stakes to the new partner after which their shareholdings in the company will be reduced proportionately.

The Chairman  BHEL, K Ravi Kumar confirmed the development stating that the company is negotiating with an European firm for acquiring nuclear technology to develop turbines for nuclear power plant and the deal would be finalized very shortly. With a new partner, the company will now manufacture nuclear turbines to the domestic sector as it has already received orders for stream generators from NPCIL for their 700 MW plants. It is worth about Rs 700-800 crore he, added.

He said adding that the BHEL will also sign a technology transfer agreement with UK- based Sheffield Forgemasters International Ltd for its nuclear forging business as there is a short supply of forgings and casting because the company don’t  have the technology for higher tonnage and the transfer of technology will facilitate to do that. The BHEL had memorandum of understanding with Sheffield Forgemasters for technology transfer which would soon be converted into an agreement for which the BHEL has already secure government’s approval.

Sheffield Forgemasters specializes in heavy steel forgings and steel castings. Forging is used to give a shape to heavy metals by compressive forces. Forging and castings products are used in manufacturing turbines and rotors. Currently, the BHEL is already doing up to 50 tons of forging for nuclear power plants. However, the company now wants to develop power equipment with supercritical technology where heavy tonnage forgings and castings are required to support the industry. With this technology transfer agreement in place, BHEL will gain technology to increase the supply of forgings and castings for the power sector. It would help the company to increase its capability to meet rising demand for power generation equipment and gain know-how. The company plans to extend the super critical technology to its existing as well as future products, Kumar concluded.