NTPC arm set up to manufacture power equipment: Shinde

New Delhi, Mar 20 (UNI) Power Minister Sushilkumar Shinde today announced that public sector power major National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) will enter into power eqipment manufacturing with a dedicated arm, primarily to cater to the growing requirements of the upcoming power projects.

The manufacturing arm will produce turbines and boilers as well as a few other equipments.

''We need more than just one manufacturer for the manufacture of equipment such as turbines and boilers, especially for the units of the size of ultra mega power projects. We have therefore established a manufacturing arm of NTPC that will address the issue,'' the minister said.

''Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd is also capable enough but as we are talking of ultra mega power projects, we need more manufacturers,'' he added at the inauguration of a two-day conference organised jointly by FICCI, USAID and the SAARC Chamber of Commerce&Industry (SCCI) on 'Emerging Investment Opportunities in the South Asian Power Sector.' Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) controls significant market segment of power equipments.

The Power Minister invited energy service, equipment and appliance manufacturing companies from the SAARC region and the rest of the world to exploit the commercial opportunities in India's electricity sector.

Mr Shinde said the government's latest initiative in generation was to secure low cost power through economies of scale.

UNI