Question : POWER EQUIPMENT

(a) whether the companies supplying electrical equipment to power plants are running their factories at half the capacity;

(b) if so, the details thereof along with the reasons therefor;

(c) whether the competition from foreign countries including China and Korea have forced these companies to cut selling prices by 15 to 25 per cent to withstand the competition;

(d) if so, whether the Government proposes to impose ban on power equipment from foreign countries including China and Korea; and

(e) if so, the details thereof and the other measures taken by the Government to help the Indian companies supplying electrical equipment?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF POWER (SHRI K.C. VENUGOPAL)

(a): No, Madam.

(b): Does not arise in view of reply at (a) above.

(c): No, Madam.

(d) & (e): There are no proposal to ban import of power equipment from foreign countries. In order to facilitate large power generation capacity addition programme currently under implementation, indigenous manufacturing of supercritical power equipment is being encouraged. BHEL have entered into technology collaboration agreements with M/s. Alstom (France) and Siemens (Germany) for manufacturing of supercritical boiler and turbine generators respectively. Several Joint Ventures have been set up in the country for manufacturing of supercritical boilers & turbine generators with technology tie-ups from International manufacturers of supercritical equipment.

With a view to encourage domestic manufacturing of supercritical units, bulk orders for 11 supercritical units of 660 MW each for NTPC and DVC and 9 supercritical units of 800 MW each for NTPC have been approved by the Government with mandatory condition of setting up phased manufacturing facilities in the country and bids for these units have been invited by NTPC. With a view to support indigenous manufacturers of thermal power plants based on supercritical technology, Central Electricity Authority has advised Central/State sector power generating companies/Utilities to incorporate the condition of setting up of phased indigenous manufacturing facilities, in the bids to be invited till October, 2012 for boilers and turbine-generators of supercritical projects.