BHEL - A Star Public Sector Company

Reposing confidence in the technological excellence of Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) as also its capability in executing mega power projects, Raichur Power Corporation Limited (RPCL) has placed an order on the company for setting up a 1600 MW (2x800 MW) Supercritical Thermal Power Project in Karnataka.

Valued at Rs.63,000 Million, the highest-ever order for BHEL, envisages design, engineering, manufacture, supply, erection and commissioning of two coal-fired thermal units of 800 MW each with supercritical parameters at Yeramarus in Raichur district of Karnataka.

RPCL is a Joint Venture Company of Karnataka Power Corporation Limited (KPCL) and BHEL, which has been set up to Build, Own and Operate Thermal Power Plants with Supercritical parameters in Karnataka. Significantly, this is the first order for a power project, bagged by BHEL through the JV route.

Also, with the order, BHEL has maintained its track record of bagging most of the orders for power generating equipment in Karnataka. The company has commissioned about 4,300MW of power generating sets in the state, which include thermal as well as hydro units of various ratings.

Notably, BHEL is already executing major contracts for supply of main plant equipment with supercritical parameters for the 2x660 MW Barh Thermal Power Project Stage-II of NTPC and the 3x660 MW Bara Thermal Power Project of Prayagraj Power Generation Company Limited, a part of the Jaypee Group. BHEL is also executing a contract for supply of supercritical Steam Generators to APGenco’s 2x800 MW Krishnapatnam Thermal Power Project, which is in an advanced stage of completion.

BHEL has upgraded its technology base from sub-critical sets to supercritical sets of 660/800 MW and above. The company has ongoing collaboration agreements with Alstom, France and Siemens, Germany, with a technology transfer arrangement, which will enable the country to be self-reliant in the field of supercritical thermal power plants.

The company has established the capability to deliver 15,000 MW of power equipment per annum and further augmentation to 20,000 MW per annum is underway. During fiscal 2009-10, a record 74% of the total power generated in the country was contributed by BHEL sets, which comprise two-thirds of the country’s installed capacity.