Friday, August 31, 2012

Bhel disinvestment on hold: Praful Patel

The government is not considering divesting its stake in power equipment maker Bhel due to present volatile market conditions, Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises Mininster, Praful Patel said today. "Bhel disinvestment at the moment is on hold," Patel told reporters on the sidelines of a CII function here. "There is no immediate plan considering the current market conditions and overall mood about the power sector," the minister said. more at: http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/bhel-disinvestmenthold-praful-patel/184921/on

Thursday, August 30, 2012

ONGC, BHEL, CIL and NTPC to kick-start 'Divestment ETF', a move to help government raise Rs 4,000 crore

Oil & gas producer ONGC, mining major Coal India, power generator NTPC and power equipment maker BHEL could be among the state-run companies that are expected to constitute the much-awaited 'disinvestment ETF'. The Department of Disinvestment (DoD), which has received several suggestions on the concept note it circulated on the operationalisation of 'disinvestment ETFs', is likely to finalise the ETF structure by including top PSUs like ONGC and Coal India. The ETF structure will have about 25-30 PSU stocks - many of which could be small and less popular PSUs. "The earlier plan was to float an ETF with lesser-known PSU companies like Hindustan Copper, HAL and Rashtriya Ispat Nigam as underlying shares. However, keeping in mind low investor appetite for equities and bad market conditions, the department has decided to include big companies in the ETF structure," said a senior DoD official. more at: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/finance/ongc-bhel-cil-and-ntpc-to-kick-start-divestment-etf-a-move-to-help-government-raise-rs-4000-crore/articleshow/16023140.cms

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

LV Prasad, BHEL team up to promote eye donation

‘Vision to All - BHEL’s Call’ is a new initiative to promote eye donation. It is a joint collaboration between BHEL and LV Prasad Eye Institute’s Ramayamma International Eye Bank. Launched on the occasion of the 27th national eye donation fortnight (August 25 to September 8), the objective of the project is to organise activities spread across Andhra Pradesh to create awareness and sensitise the public on eye donation through corporate organisations, educational institutions and healthcare professionals. It will spell out the myths and facts of eye donation. Around 2,100 corneal blind patients are benefited every year because of the efforts of the Ramayamma International Eye Bank of L V Prasad Eye Institute. more at: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/states/article3832157.ece

Monday, August 27, 2012

Why BHEL is now also in the road-building business

In April, when it received a shipment of a 450-tonne stator from technology partner Siemens at Mumbai port, the Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) decided against unloading it there due to logistical constraints. Instead, it chose to transport the consignment by barge to Karwar. From there to Raichur, the final destination in Karnataka, BHEL’s logistics contractor is building 15 bypasses en route to ensure that the cargo, still in transit, reaches Raichur safe and sound. Constructing bypasses to move large-sized cargo has become a routine affair for engineering firms such as BHEL, mainly because there are no reliable estimates on the adequacy of most road bridges, specifically on their weight-bearing capacity. “It’s not our job (to construct bypasses), but there is absolutely no way out,” a senior BHEL executive said. more at: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/why-bhel-is-now-also-in-the-roadbuilding-business/993596/

Sunday, August 26, 2012

BHEL to step up focus on high-value assignments

Amid intensifying competition in the power generation equipment business, the Rs 49,510 crore Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) plans to step up its share of high-value EPC (engineering, procurement, construction) jobs over the next five years against its mainstay BTG (boiler, turbine generator) orders in the power sector, which form an overwhelming proportion its turnover. EPC jobs entail the entire gamut of project work, including civil engineering and equipment supply, while BTG packages are essentially restricted to the supply of main plant gear — boilers and turbines — for a project. Over the previous five years, the EPC content that BHEL has been executing is pegged around 20 per cent of its total jobs while 80 per cent of the firm’s assignments were BTG jobs. more at: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/bhel-to-step-up-focus-on-highvalue-assignments/993543/

BHEL hosts programme to spread word on eye donation

Under the banner 'Vision to All-BHEL's Call' an eye donation awareness programme was held on Saturday at BHEL, Bhopal, in association with Sewa Sadan Eye Hospital. B Prasada Rao chairman and managing director, BHEL, has initiated this noble drive of eye donation across all units of BHEL. SS Gupta Executive Director BHEL, Bhopal was present as the chief on the occasion. Gupta speaking on this occasion threw light on the significance of eye donation simultaneously urging the gathering to actively participate in this journey of eye donation. Shrivastava in his address made the congregation aware about the importance of eye donation. LC Janyani along with other doctors from Sewa Sadan gave presentation on eye donation. They also tried aware the people regarding the misconceptions of eye donation. On this occasion 30 employees who enrolled were presented Certificate of Appreciation. more at: http://www.dailypioneer.com/state-editions/bhopal/90063-bhel-hosts-programme-to-spread-word-on-eye-donation.html

Saturday, August 25, 2012

BHEL to provide iron wheels for temple car

BHEL, Tiruchirapalli will provide the iron wheels for the temple car for Kailasanathar temple in this town. Karaikal South MLA A M H Nazeem told reporters that the wheels would be purchased from BHEL. Ninety per cent of the work which commenced in August 2011 has been completed at a total cost of Rs 40 lakh, raised through public donations. He Chief Minister Rengaswamy has assured that government funds would be released to meet other expenses related to car construction. Nazeem said the car would be used in the annual brahmorchavam of temples under the Kailasanathar Devasthanam, Karaikal. Earlier, the MLA, accompanied by Special Officer (temples) Asaithambi, inspected the car construction work and interacted with the sthapathis. ref: http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/bhel-to-provide-iron-wheels-for-temple-car/1050446.html

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Alstom-BHEL consortium bags NPCIL contract

Alstom in consortium with Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) has secured a contract from Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) for the supply of turbine generator packages. Alstom’s share in the total contract is about Rs 700 crore. The package is for the Rajasthan Atomic Power Project (RAPP) units 7 & 8 at Rawatbhata in Rajasthan. Alstom and BHEL will supply and commission the turbine generator packages for the station’s two 700-MW capacity units. The expansion of the existing capacity of the 1,180-MW of RAPP nuclear power plant will help meet the country’s increasing demand for power, Alstom said. Alstom said this order follows the 2x700 MW units for the Kakrapar 3 and 4 nuclear power plants in Gujarat a year ago. The first contract that Alstom executed for NPCIL was for Rajasthan unit 1 and unit 2 in 1973 and 1981. Thereafter, it became the technology provider through BHEL for the 220-MW park for Kakrapar. more at: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/article3807192.ece

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

BHEL actively seeks buyout opportunities in US, Europe

Looking to bolster its overseas foot prints, state-run Bharat Heavy Electricals is actively scouting for acquisition opportunities in Europe and the US. At present, the company is executing as many as 24 contracts spread across 19 countries, including Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Sudan, Syria and Vietnam. BHEL has said it is "actively pursuing acquisition opportunities in Europe and the USA" in the areas of core technologies in energy sector, including renewables, transportation and transmission. The efforts are aimed at gaining access to technology, global markets as well as securing global supply sources, BHEL said in its 2011-12 annual report. more at: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/indl-goods/svs/engineering/bhel-actively-seeks-buyout-opportunities-in-us-europe/articleshow/15586716.cms

Friday, August 17, 2012

BJP cries foul over tender cancellation

BJP’s national secretary Kirit Somaiya on Friday alleged that the party has smelt rat in cancellation of tenders of two mega power projects to benefit private players in power sector. At a media conference, Somaiya released a set of documents to establish that despite of awarding the contract of two mega power projects to public sector BHEL, the Government-run Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam (RRVUN) cancelled the contract and decided to invite fresh tenders in a way that would ensure at least one of the projects to a private company. This was done despite a clear-cut instruction from the Centre. According to him in November 2009, RRVUN had invited tenders for two mega power projects for Surtgarh and Chhabra. Under the scheme, RRVUN had to set up one power project each at both the place. Suratgarh and Chabbra were to have two power units of 660 MW each. Approximate cost of setting up these two mega power project was estimated at about Rs12,000 cores. RRVUN in November 2009 had invited tenders for the same from BHEL, with a seven per cent less cost. According to Somiaya , RRVUN had invited BHEL in January this year to finalise the terms and other conditions before issuing work orders. “BHEL had agreed to all the conditions. The board of directors of RRVUN in its meeting in March this year took a decision to issue the work order to BHEL. But suddenly in April, RRVUN informed BHEL that it has decided to invite fresh tenders for both the projects” more at: http://dailypioneer.com/nation/87973-bjp-cries-foul-over-tender-cancellation.html

BHEL to set up new manufacturing facility in Maharashtra

BHEL plans to set up a new manufacturing facility in Maharashtra for which it would invest Rs 159 crore, a top company official said here today. BHEL Tiruchirapalli Complex executive director A V Krishnan said BHEL, which has a special focus on power plant equipment, plans a 90,000 tonne capacity production facility of seamless tubes products at Bandara in Maharashtra. Though it is in the initial stage, pending land acquisition, BHEL has decided to invest Rs 159 crore to augment tubular products available in the western region, where requirement is high, he told PTI. Krishnan said given the transportation bottlenecks all over the country, the location of the new plant has been chosen near Nagpur due to its easy access to major steel plants like Bhilai and Rourkela. He expressed hope that things would fortify for the actual blueprint by next month. Production is expected to crystallise in the next two to three years, Krishnan said. ref: http://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/bhel-to-setnew-manufacturing-facilitymaharashtra_746551.html

Thursday, August 16, 2012

Consumer forum wants Gujarat government to penalise BHEL

The city based Consumer Education Research Society (CERS) want government of Gujarat to penalise Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) for poor performance of its equipments supplied for Kutch Lignite Thermal Power Station (KLTPS). Commissioned in December 2009, a 75 mw station reported around 30% plant load factor for two consecutive years. Earlier, state utility Gujarat State Electricity Corporation (GSEC) stated that the plant had new technology and has teething trouble. However, CERS did not agree. It want GSEC to penalise for for poor performance which and additional burden on consumers. "CERS requested Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission to direct GSEC to recover this amount of loss from BHEL for not conducting Performance Guarantee Test for two years. Somehow the Commission in its order in June 2012 did not pass any order for recovery of this loss and transferred the burden on consumers of Gujarat," read CERS' letter to energy minister Saurabh Dalal. ref: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/indl-goods/svs/engineering/consumer-forum-wants-gujarat-government-to-penalise-bhel/articleshow/15517854.cms

Sunday, August 12, 2012

Bad time is over, says BHEL CMD

After a lull last year, Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd. (BHEL), catering to 75-80 per cent of power sector business, is witnessing improvement in the demand scenario. Compared to the 2,800 MW order that the power major secured in 2011-12, orders for 3,000 MW, in the first quarter of 2012-13 alone, have been booked. Also, orders for 15,000 MW, placed by distribution companies in government sectors, were in the tendering stages. BHEL could maintain a growth rate of 18 per cent over the first quarter of the previous year and a bottom line of 13.5 per cent. The company, said its Chairman and Managing Director B. Prasada Rao, saw positive signs in restructuring losses and tariff revision by distribution companies, and in Coal India’s obligation to accelerate supplies in the wake of a penalty system introduced by the Centre. “We feel the bad time is over,” Mr. Rao told presspersons on Friday. more at: http://www.thehindu.com/business/companies/article3754688.ece

Saturday, August 11, 2012

BHEL exploring non-power equipment business for profits

Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd. (BHEL) plans to focus on increasing its revenue from non-power segments like railways, defence and others, said a top company official. "BHEL will bid aggressively for coaches for metro trains. Till now we are not a major player in this segment. We plan to supply 75 locomotives to Indian Railways this year, up from 54 units supplied last year," B. Prasada Rao, chairman and managing director, told reporters here Friday. He was in Tiruchirapalli to hold a series of review meetings with officials of the company's boiler division. On supplies to the defence sector, Rao said the company has been asked to look out for appropriate technology to supply 127 mm and 30 mm guns for the Indian Navy. "We now supply 76 mm guns for the Indian Navy," Rao said. ref: http://india.nydailynews.com/business/6032dab7cac0895a0188c690a00d6433/bhel-exploring-non-power-equipment-business-for-profits

Govt slaps notice to BHEl asking to pay Rs 25 Cr as penalty

Karnataka government has slapped a notice on BHEL asking to pay Rs 250 crore as penalty for supplying faulty power generating equipments at the Raichur Thermal Power Station, Minister for Energy, Shobha Karandlaje said today. The eighth unit of the RTPS, the contract of which was awarded to BHEL, developed technical snag since about a year ago and the company has not been able to rectify it, she told reporters here. The government had also decided to recover the losses caused to the state following failure to generate power by BHEL in the last one year, she said. The govenment had awarded contract to BHEL for supply of machinery for the third unit of the Bellary thermal power plant and also at Erramurus in Raichur, she said, adding that the orders would continue. However the government would float global tenders hereafter for supply of equipments for thermal power plants to be set up in future, she said. ref: http://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/govt-slaps-notice-to-bhel-asking-to-pay-rs-25-cr-as-penalty_743990.html

BHEL plans to invest Rs 1,000 crore for modernisation

Engineering major BHEL plans to undertake capital expenditure of Rs 1,000 crore this year for internal modernisation and expansion of different sectors under its ambit, the company CMD B Prasada Rao said. Besides this, Rs 400 crore has been set aside for a JV investment for setting up a steel plant, of which 30-40 per cent offtake will be for the company's own consumption, he told reporters here last night. He said BHEL has been comfortably securing orders both in India as well as overseas. With Government of India's target of installing eight lakh MW by 2032, which is four times the current capacity and with most of this is likely to be in PSUs, BHEL was confident of sustained growth in the coming years, he said. With many projects in the pipeline, BHEL was optimistic of adding 7,000-8,000 MW order before end of this fiscal. In the first quarter of the year, BHEL secured order for providing equipments for generation of 3,000 MW. "The remaining three quarters also seem positive," he said. more: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/indl-goods/svs/engineering/bhel-plans-to-invest-rs-1000-crore-for-modernisation/articleshow/15447374.cms

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

BHEL holds training programme

A three-day Functional Training Programme on ‘Transformer and Reactor’ designed for PGCIL is being held here at HRDC, BHEL, Bhopal. SC Gupta, General Manager (New TRM block), was present as the Chief Guest on this occasion. Gupta said BHEL has developed the new Transformer block with all the state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities dedicated as per PGCIL requirements. He further assured the customers that BHEL is available through all way of communication. Earlier PK Sinha, AGM (HRD) welcomed all participants and shared the role of PSUs like PGCIL and BHEL in strengthening the Indian economy. ref: http://www.dailypioneer.com/state-editions/bhopal/86269-bhel-holds-training-programme.html