Additional turbine contract for BHEL, Alstom
A contract worth over $300 million for the supply of turbine generators for two new units at the Rajasthan Atomic Power Project (RAPP) has been awarded to a consortium between India's Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) and France's Alstom.
Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) awarded the contract - worth over INR 19,060 million ($343 million) - to the consortium for the supply and installation of the turbine generator packages for RAPP units 7 and 8, construction of which began last year in Rawatbhata, Rajasthan. Alstom said that its share in the contract will be some INR 7000 million ($126 million), while BHEL will take the remainder.
Under the contract, BHEL and Alstom will together manufacture and supply the steam turbines, while the manufacture and supply of the complete generator, moisture separator reheater and condenser - including the erection and commissioning of the turbine generator package - will be undertaken by BHEL. The Indian company will manufacture the steam turbine components based on Alstom designs.
Under a separate contract from NPCIL, state-owned BHEL will supply and install the instrumentation and controls for the turbine island secondary circuit for the two indigenously designed 700 MWe pressurised heavy water reactor (PHWR) units.
Commenting on the RAPP 7 and 8 contract, Alstom said: "This contract marks Alstom's growing contribution in the nuclear energy business in India after the award of the contract for two 700 MW units for the Kakrapar 3 and 4 nuclear power plant in Gujarat a year ago."
BHEL entered into a memorandum of understanding in February 2011 with NPCIL and Alstom for the creation of a joint venture for the supply of the conventional island for nuclear power plants of 700 MWe and above.
In April 2011, NPCIL awarded an INR 16,000 million ($288 million) contract to a consortium of BHEL and Alstom to cover the supply and installation of turbogenerator packages for Kakrapar 3 and 4, India's first 700 MWe PHWRs.
In May 2010, Hindustan Construction Company (HCC) was awarded an INR 8880 million ($160 million) contract to undertake the main plant civil works of RAPP 7 and 8. HCC has constructed all six existing units at RAPP, which are also PHWRs of varying sizes, the first of which began operating in 1973 and the latest in early 2010. First concrete for RAPP units 7 and 8 was poured in July 2011. The units are scheduled to begin commercial operation in June and December 2016, respectively.
Contracts currently being undertaken by BHEL for NPCIL include supplying eight steam generator packages for one of the new Kakrapar units and another 700 MWe plant to be built at Rajasthan. It is also general contractor for the complete conventional island for the 500 MWe prototype fast breeder reactor being built at Kalpakkam.
Researched and written
by World Nuclear News
