India’s nuclear energy expansion is currently focused on two fronts: 1000 megawatt light water reactors based on foreign technology along the coasts and 700 megawatt heavy water reactors based on domestic development to be located in inland areas.
Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited announced that it has won a “prestigious order” from the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) for the supply of 32 reactor header assemblies to be placed at four different heavy water locations.
India has approved ten such heavy water reactors: units 5 & 6 at the Kaiga NPP in Karnataka, units 1&2 at the Chutka NPP in Madhya Pradesh, units 1-4 at Mahi Banswara NPP in Rajasthan, and units 1 & 2 at Gorakhpur NPP in Haryana state. Four 700MWe PHWRs are already under construction: Kakrapar 3 & 4 in Gujarat, and Rajasthan 7 & 8 in Rajasthan.
State-run BHEL is engaged in design, engineering, construction, testing, commissioning and servicing of a wide range of products and services supporting India’s energy sector; it is 63 percent owned by the federal government.