DEE Development Engineers Seeks Global Joint Venture Partner to Enter Nuclear Piping Sector

NEW DELHI — BSE-listed DEE Development Engineers Ltd (DDEL) is planning to enter India's nuclear power segment by partnering with a global entity for piping fabrication solutions. According to Chairman and Managing Director K.L. Bansal, the company is currently in initial discussions to explore a joint venture (JV) that would address the technological and regulatory requirements needed to establish a nuclear piping fabrication project.

The prospective joint venture is expected to be finalized by the end of the year. Bansal noted that initial capital expenditure for such projects would exceed ₹100 crore. The initiative is intended to support the government's target of establishing 100 GW of nuclear capacity by 2047, while also addressing India's current complete dependence on imports for nuclear piping fabrication, which is critical for nuclear power plant construction and maintenance.

Alongside its nuclear sector plans, DDEL recently expanded into the data centre market by securing its first core piping order from a private entity. As part of the Make in India initiative, the company has also commissioned India's first heavy-wall seamless pipe manufacturing facility at Anjar, Gujarat. Built with an investment of over ₹100 crore and an annual capacity of 7,000 tonnes, the facility is designed to meet domestic demand for high-strength specialised pipes used in mega power projects.

Supported by these new business initiatives, DDEL aims to achieve a topline of over ₹2,500 crore by 2030, rising from ₹1,200 crore projected in FY26. DDEL operates as an industrial pipe fabrication player in India and maintains a presence among the top five globally, welding steel, stainless steel, and alloy pipes for multiple sectors. The firm also owns and operates a piping fabrication facility in Bang Pakong, Thailand.

The company currently maintains an order book valued at ₹2,500 crore, scheduled for execution over the next 12 to 18 months. Power sector players account for 60 per cent of these orders, while oil and gas majors represent 35 per cent. Geographically, approximately 50 per cent of the order book originates from international customers across the US, Africa, and South-East Asia, with the remainder coming from the domestic market.

"DEE Development Engineers' strategic move to explore a global joint venture for nuclear piping reflects a pragmatic approach to industrial expansion and import substitution. By aligning its capabilities with national infrastructure goals and diversifying into high-growth areas like data centres, the company is systematically positioning itself for long-term scalability. Managing heavy capital expenditure alongside strong international order execution will be key to achieving its ambitious 2030 revenue targets." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes