Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd. (BHEL) on Thursday announced a 16.6 per cent rise in the net profit at Rs. 2,815 crore in 2007-08. The company also announced plans to make a foray into the manufacture of higher rating nuclear turbines and generators and was entering into a joint venture with Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) for EPC (engineering, production and construction) activities for nuclear plants. Making these announcements at the annual press conference here, BHEL Chairman and Managing Director K. Ravi Kumar said the company was gearing up for the manufacture of higher rating nuclear turbines and generators and was holding talks with NPCIL for a possible joint venture to take up EPC activities for the nuclear power plants business. "We are also venturing into manufacturing of metro coaches. In the transmission and distribution segment, the focus would be on introduction of products and systems for 765 kV transmission projects and development of 1200 kV transformers and circuit breakers,' he added. Mr. Kumar said the annual turnover crossed the Rs. 20,000-crore mark to Rs. 21,608 crore in 2007-08, up 15 per cent from Rs. 18,739 crore a year ago. The company had reported a net profit of Rs. 2,415 crore in 2006-07. The order book stood at an impressive Rs. 85,000 crore. "The order inflow rose by 41 per cent to Rs. 50,265 crore in 2007-08, up from Rs. 35,643 crore in 2006-07,' he added. Mr. Kumar said BHEL had envisaged an investment of Rs. 4,200 crore during the XI Plan. The amount would be utilised toward enhancing production of thermal, gas, hydro and nuclear sets.