The Nuclear Power Corporation of India(NPCIL) and Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) have jointly inaugurated the country’s first private sector test facility for depleted heavy water upgradation.

Commissioned by TEMA India, a specialised equipment manufacturer, the facility is expected to decentralise the nuclear supply chain and reduce delays in delivery. The facility was inaugurated by Rajesh V, Director – Technical, NPCIL, and K.T. Shenoy, Director, Chemical Engineering Group, BARC. According to the official press release, modules developed here will be delivered to key nuclear projects including RAPP 8, GHAVP Units 1–4, and KAIGA Units 5 & 6.

“BARC has transferred the indigenous technology to TEMA to build the vacuum distillation columns for upgradation of depleted heavy water at its private test facility,” the release stated. These columns are critical for maintaining Deuterium levels in pressurized heavy water reactors (PHWRs). With India targeting 100 GW of nuclear capacity by 2047 under its three-stage programme, this initiative will help address infrastructure bottlenecks and improve commissioning timelines.