Close on the heels of United States lifting the ban on supply of nuclear fuel and equipment to India, a number of companies have approached power equipment giant BHEL for developing and deploying technology for nuclear power projects in India.
"Some American, Russian and French companies have approached us. We are talking to them... We may tie up with some foreign companies to enhance our capabilities," BHEL Chairman and Managing Director A K Puri said.
Gung-ho about the prospects of nuclear power generation over the next two-three years, Puri said that by 2006, BHEL would clinch a technical tie-up with one of the companies from the developed world.
Asked which companies have showed interest in Indian power sector, he said, "We are talking to four companies," and did not elaborate.
Detailing the programme of nuclear technology upgradation, he said that till now the corporation was supplying equipment to Nuclear Power Corporation for its projects but 'we could not talk much about it'.
"Now we can showcase our capabilities with many power generators evincing interest in the nuclear power project.
"These generators are not equipment producers and naturally BHEL, as a major supplier, would have a significant role," he said.
Puri also said that while the corporation would be bidding for two upcoming projects of 1000 and 700 mw of Nuclear Power Corporation, it is also in the process of upgrading its equipment production and technology base, a move that would entail an investment of about Rs 250 crore.
