France's Alstom to expand plants at Durgapur, Shahabad

New Delhi, Oct 26 (UNI) France-based Alstom, global leader in power generation and rail infrastructure, while identifying India as a key market for hydro-power development, today said it will expand its manufacturing plants at Durgapur, Shahabad and Vadodara to meet the growing demand of thermal and hydro projects in the country.

''We have identified India as a strategic and key market for the company, and as a result plan to expand our plants at Durgapur, Shahabad and Vadodara to meet rising demand of thermal and hydro projects in India,'' Alstom Power Division President Phillipe Joubert told reporters here.

However, Mr Joubert denied any intentions of setting up a greenfield project in India.

Alstom recently tied up with public sector Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) to manufacture 800 MW boilers, and the units at Durgapur and Shahabad, as well as BHEL's Tiruchipillai will manufacture these boilers.

The company also plans to enhance its global engineering technology business. Besides, the six engineering centres, the company will also launch a centre in Kolkata.

Alstom's Indian arm Alstom Power India Ltd (APIL) has a current order book of Rs 2,100 crore, half of which is from Alstom's hydroelectric projects, besides aiming at a revenue of about Rs 1,000 crore this fiscal.

UNI RA CS HT1902