BHEL once again outbids Chinese; Wins turnkey order for Asian Development Bank-funded Project in Bangladesh

New Delhi, February 1: Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has won its second power project contract in Bangladesh, wresting it from Chinese power equipment major - Harbin Power Engineering, in an intensely competitive global tender.

Valued at Rs.5,050 Million, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) funded contract has been placed on BHEL by the Electricity Generation Company of Bangladesh (EGCB) for setting up on turnkey basis, a 2x100-120 MW Gas Turbine Power Plant at Sidhirganj in Bangladesh. EGCB is an enterprise of the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB).

BHEL is targeting more projects in this region, as it perceives Bangladesh as an important potential market. The company has earlier successfully completed the turnkey execution of a 100 MW Gas Turbine based power plant for BPDB at Baghabari in Bangladesh. The power plant is operating successfully since commissioning.

The company is also executing a contract with the Power Grid Company of Bangladesh for setting up on turnkey basis, a 220 kV Substation at Baghabari and extension of a 220kV Substation at Ishurdi. Secured against stiff competition from Chinese, Malaysian and Indian Companies, this project is also funded by ADB.

BHEL has established its references in over 65 countries in all the six inhabited continents of the world and its technical competence has earned worldwide acclaim. Spurred by its consistent track record, the company is now positioning itself as a regular EPC contractor in global markets and also pursuing various opportunities with a view to further enhancing its international operations.

The company has carved a niche in the large size Gas turbine segment (124 MW and 159MW ISO rating) in overseas markets. Such large size BHEL-supplied Gas Turbines, have been installed at power projects in Oman, Iraq, Libya, Italy, Vietnam, Sri Lanka and China, besides Bangladesh. BHEL is today placed among the world's leading gas turbine manufacturers possessing all-round engineering and technological capabilities for the manufacture of such intricate technology driven equipment.

In fiscal 2005-06, BHEL booked its highest-ever physical export orders of Rs.33,480 Million - a five-fold increase over the previous year. The trend is continuing in the current year also and BHEL has already achieved major successes with a series of orders from Oman, France, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Egypt, Sudan, Sweden and Italy.