Bhopal: The Bhopal unit of state-run Bharat Heavy Electricals (BHEL) will make equipment for nuclear plants and turbines, and assemble them once the India-US nuclear deal gets through, a union minister said Tuesday.

Speaking to reporters during his maiden visit to the BHEL unit here, Minister of State for Energy, Commerce and Industries Jairam Ramesh said the Bhopal unit has so far fabricated a nuclear turbine of 235 KV, but it has the potential to do more.

He added that Bhopal would soon become a hub of nuclear technology.

Ramesh said so far there were transmission lines of 400 KV all over the country, but now for the first time 765 KV transmission line was being laid from Sipath to Seoni. This is expected to be completed by June 2009.

BHEL has decided to fill 3,200 posts in the next five years, he said. "Of these, 1,600 posts would be filled by ITI (industrial training institute) certificate holders."

Asked about the Madhya Pradesh government's allegation that the Amarkantak and Birsinghpur project were being delayed by BHEL, he said the Central Electricity Authority has started inquiring the delay.

Ramesh, however, criticised the state government for entering into a deal with Punjab to sell power even as the state was suffering from power deficit.