India’s First Private Heavy Water Test Unit Unveiled

01 Aug 2025 CW Team

Senior officials from state-run Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) and Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) have inaugurated the country’s first private-sector test facility for upgrading depleted heavy water, commissioned by TEMA India Ltd.

The facility was jointly inaugurated by Shri Rajesh V, Director – Technical, NPCIL, and Shri K.T. Shenoy, Director of the Chemical Engineering Group at BARC.

Developed under technology transfer from BARC and backed by a purchase order from NPCIL, the advanced test facility has been designed and built by TEMA India’s nuclear division. This milestone aligns with the Government of India’s Atma-Nirbhar Bharat mission and represents a significant leap in private sector participation in strategic infrastructure.

Until now, such critical testing infrastructure for heavy water distillation components existed only within BARC.

Also unveiled at the event was the first validated consignment of eight distillation column sections. These include activated phosphor bronze modules — essential for Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) — which have undergone thorough in-house testing.

These modules are now set to be deployed across major nuclear power projects, including RAPP Unit 8, GHAVP Units 1–4, and KAIGA Units 5 and 6.

This initiative demonstrates growing self-reliance in high-technology sectors. By fully designing, manufacturing and validating nuclear components domestically, India is reducing its dependence on foreign imports and centralised public-sector testing infrastructure.

The project strengthens national energy security, builds indigenous capabilities, and boosts long-term resilience across India’s nuclear ecosystem.

Infrastructure Transport

30 May 2026

Chembur Metro to Boost East Mumbai Links

MMRDA is advancing eastern Mumbai’s urban mobility network, with the upcoming Chembur Metro Station set to emerge as a key interchange and the Mumbai Monorail preparing for relaunch.Dr Sanjay Mukherjee, Metropolitan Commissioner, MMRDA, conducted a site visit to Chembur Metro Station along with Kanhuraj Bagate, Managing Director, MMMOCL. He also visited the nearby VN Purav Monorail Station to review system preparedness and ease of interconnectivity.Once operational, the interchange is expected to offer commuters across the eastern suburbs quicker access, smoother transfers and seamless conne..

Herrenknecht TBMs Drive Thane–Borivali Tunnel Progress

Herrenknecht India has supplied two of the four tunnel boring machines (TBMs) required for the 11-km Thane–Borivali Twin Tunnel Project being developed by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA). The project is expected to reduce travel time between Thane and Borivali from 60–90 minutes to around 15 minutes while easing congestion across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.The first two Single Shield TBMs, named Nayak and Arjuna, feature 13.34-m cutterhead diameters and are designed for hard-rock excavation. They will be deployed to tunnel through the challenging geological..

KBL Launches Smart Skid Mounted Fire Pump Set

Kirloskar Brothers (KBL) has launched its Smart Skid Mounted Fire Pump Set, an integrated fire protection solution designed to improve operational efficiency, remote monitoring and installation flexibility. The system was inaugurated by Ms Madhuritai Misal, Hon. Minister of State for Urban Development, Government of Maharashtra.The Smart Skid Mounted Fire Pump Set is a factory-tested, pre-packaged solution that combines FM/UL-certified motor and engine pump sets with IoT-enabled remote monitoring. Designed to deliver a flow rate of 170 m³/hr at a head of 100 metres, the system aims to provide..