India’s Hindustan Construction Co (HCC) on Wednesday announced that its joint venture with MAX Group has won a $110 million contract from Russia for the construction of a nuclear power plant in Bangladesh, Business Standard reports.
The contract includes civil works of Turbine Island for Unit 1 of Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (NPP).
“HCC, in a joint venture with MAX Group, a construction company in Bangladesh has been awarded $110 million contract by Russia’s State Nuclear Company, JSC Atomstroyexport,” HCC said in a statement.
HCC’s share in the joint venture is 40% ($44 million), the statement said. The Rooppur NPP will be built with Russian technology and is equipped with two VVER reactors of 1,200 MW each. These reactors are similar to the Kudankulam plant in Tamil Nadu.
“HCC has become the first Indian company to participate in the international civil nuclear market. We look forward to further project awards in Rooppur NPP and expanding our infrastructure footprint in Bangladesh,” Arjun Dhawan, director and group CEO, HCC said in a statement.
The news comes after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Moscow last month, where he discussed several large economic projects with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Recently, India signed an agreement with Bangladesh for civil nuclear cooperation, under which the country has extended expertise and project support for Bangladesh’s first nuclear power plant.
India, not being a member of Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), cannot participate directly in the construction of atomic power reactors. But Indian companies can be involved in construction and installation works and in the supply of equipment of non-critical category.
