Set up equipment manufacturing unit: Shinde

New Delhi, Oct 9: Union Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde today asked the state-run National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) to set up an equipment manufacturing company on the lines of Bharat Heavy Electricals (BHEL), for faster capacity addition and coping with more orders.

''To build more power stations and bridge the gap between demand and supply of power, the Government has planned to set up an equipment manufacturing company,'' Mr Shinde told reporters here.

He added that the proposed unit will shorten the installing period of time from five years to almost three years.

However, Mr Shinde did not elaborate whether the Government was planning a separate company to be a competitor to BHEL or it would be part of NTPC.

On being asked about the time and investment on this proposed unit, Mr Shinde declined to divulge the concrete details, saying it is under consideration with NTPC and the latter would finalise these matters.

Stressing on the power augmentation, he invited the major industry players to come forward.

NTPC Chairman and Managing Director T Sankaralingam said the proposed unit is underway, the details of which will be disclosed later.

However, Mr Sankaralingam indicated NTPC's plan for acquisition in the West Asia within a couple of months.

Today, NTPC was awarded with the Most Admired Company Award in power sector.

UNI