BHEL, Areva T&D to form JV for mfg nuclear reactors

State-run Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd is in talks with electrical equipment maker Areva T&D India, the Indian arm of French Areva Power, to form a joint venture company for manufacturing nuclear reactors. "BHEL and Areva T&D are in talks to form a joint venture for manufacturing nuclear reactors," Minister of State for Power Jairam Ramesh told PTI, adding that the facility would be set up in Finland. BHEL would have 26 per cent stake in the JV company, sources said. The JV would manufacture European Pressurised Reactors (EPR) of 1,600 MW capacity each. Areva T&D India is a part of French electrical equipment maker Areva Power. Areva T&D has bagged a 35 million euro (approx. Rs 221 crore) order from state-run Steel Authority of India Ltd to provide transmission and distribution services to its unit. The order includes providing Bhillai Steel Plant, a flagship unit of SAIL, with a 132 KV gas insulated sub-station, besides offering protection, control and monitoring system for the existing ones. The project is scheduled to complete by October 2010.