Engineers India Ltd (EIL), a state-owned engineering consultancy and project management company, is strategically expanding its footprint in the thermal and nuclear power sectors, aligning with the Indian government's focus on increasing baseload capacity. This move is part of EIL's broader strategy to diversify its business beyond the oil and gas sector and tap into the growing opportunities in the power generation segment.
EIL's renewed interest in thermal power projects comes as the government aims to add 80 GW of coal-based power generation capacity by 2032 to meet rising power demand, alongside its ambitious renewable energy targets. Vartika Shukla, CMD of EIL, highlighted that several previously stalled thermal power projects are being revived, presenting opportunities for the company to act as a project management consultant (PMC). EIL is engaging with various power generation companies, though specific names were not disclosed, to explore potential collaborations in these projects. The company believes it possesses the necessary talent and expertise to manage these large-scale thermal power projects, given the significant capacity addition planned.
In addition to thermal power, EIL is also eyeing opportunities in the nuclear energy sector, including both conventional projects and small modular reactors (SMRs). The company has already made inroads in this sector by providing engineering services to the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project and undertaking small-scale work for the Gorakhpur plant of the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL). EIL aims to expand its role in the nuclear sector by focusing on design, engineering, and PMC services. This strategic move aligns with India's plans to increase its nuclear energy capacity to 100 GW by 2047, a substantial increase from the current 8 GW.
EIL's expansion into the nuclear sector also involves engaging with international stakeholders to explore collaborations for setting up both conventional nuclear power plants and SMRs. India is particularly interested in SMRs, which are advanced nuclear reactors with a capacity of up to 300 MW per unit, and is looking to integrate into the global manufacturing value chain for these reactors. Discussions are ongoing with countries like the United States and France for potential collaborations in this area.
Furthermore, EIL is not neglecting renewable energy sources. The company is actively exploring opportunities in the offshore wind energy space and is in discussions with potential clients. EIL's expertise in designing offshore jackets for the oil and gas sector positions it well to contribute to the development of offshore wind projects.
Beyond the domestic market, EIL is also enhancing its global presence by expanding its operations in the Middle East and South America. The company is working on opening a new office in Saudi Arabia to tap into opportunities from oil and gas giants in the region. In South America, EIL is actively pursuing projects in Guyana and Suriname, including the second phase of a 300 MW power plant in Guyana, where it already has a team of 70-80 people.
This strategic diversification and expansion are reflected in EIL's strong financial performance. In fiscal year 2025, the company secured orders worth ₹8,214 crore, an all-time high, resulting in a robust order book of around ₹12,400 crore. The share of EIL's diversified business segments, including energy-efficient infrastructure projects like data centers and laboratories, has also increased significantly, accounting for approximately 36% of the order inflow in FY25.
