BHEL makes its foray in execution of Supercritical Thermal Power Projects; Signs MoU with TNEB to float JV Company for setting up the first 2x800 MW Supercritical Power Project in Tamil Nadu

Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has made its entry into the area of executing thermal power projects with supercritical technology with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to form a Joint Venture Company (JVC) with the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB).

Dr. Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and Sh. Sontosh Mohan Dev, Hon’ble Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises, graced the MoU signing ceremony in Chennai today. The MoU was signed by Mr. Ashok K. Puri, Chairman & Managing Director, BHEL and Mr. Hans Raj Verma, Chairman, TNEB in the presence of Thiru Arcot N. Veeraswami, Hon’ble Minister for Electricity, Govt. of Tamil Nadu.

The JVC is being set up for the execution of the first 2x800 MW Supercritical Thermal Power Project in Tamil Nadu, with principal equity stake from BHEL and TNEB. The JVC is expected to be in place in about three months and work on the project is expected to commence shortly thereafter.

The land for the project, proposed to be set up at Udangudi in Tiruchendur Taluk of Tuticorin District in Tamil Nadu, has already been identified. The project, with a total capital outlay of around Rs.85,000 Million, will be the first supercritical power project to be installed in the state of Tamil Nadu and will strengthen the power availability in the state.

The present installed power generating capacity in the state of Tamil Nadu is 10,122 MW which includes 2,970 MW of thermal generating sets. The proposed 1,600 MW capacity to be contributed by the Udangudi power project will give a tremendous boost to the developmental efforts of the Govt. of Tamil Nadu.

TNEB, with its vast experience in conceiving, setting up and operating thermal power plants and BHEL, with its world-class technology and proven strength in design, engineering, manufacture, erection, testing and commissioning of large thermal power plants have come together to leverage their respective capabilities in setting up this project.

Having demonstrated its track record in successfully establishing new technologies to serve the nation’s power sector, BHEL has fully equipped itself to produce thermal power equipment for 800 MW sets with supercritical parameters, suited to Indian conditions, using Indian as well as imported coal. The Boilers and the Turbine Generators will be manufactured by BHEL to state-of-the-art technology in technical collaboration with Alstom, France and Siemens, Germany respectively, who are both pioneers in the field of supercritical technology.

The Boilers and their auxiliaries will be manufactured by BHEL at its Tiruchirapalli and Ranipet works in Tamil Nadu. These 800 MW coal-fired units will be able to harness the multiple benefits of higher plant efficiencies, economies of scale and to generate electricity in an environment friendly manner.

BHEL is building Capacity and Capability to contribute fully for meeting the power forecast for the 11th Plan and beyond. For this, the company BHEL is enhancing its manufacturing capacity in the next three years, from 6,000 MW to 15,000 MW per annum. Manpower is also being ramped up in a commensurate and timely manner. To meet the surge in demand and manufacturing load, critical machines are being operated round the clock on three shift operations. Besides, the company has taken broad steps like shift in operational focus from Product to Project and implementation of effective Project Management Systems.