BHEL top brass to take stock of TN projects today

The Chairman and Managing Director of BHEL, Mr B.P. Rao, and the Director (Power) of the company, Mr Atul Sarayya, are scheduled to hold a review meeting in Chennai today to take stock of some of the BHEL-supplied thermal power projects in Tamil Nadu. High on the agenda is the 2x600 MW North Chennai project and the 2x500 MW Vallur project. The commissioning of these projects has been hugely delayed. For instance, the first unit of North Chennai should have been commissioned in August 2011. Mr Rao will arrive in Chennai late Tuesday evening and immediately hold a review meeting. Mr Sarayya is scheduled to visit the North Chennai plant Tuesday afternoon. It is learnt that the BHEL wants to ensure that the first units of the two projects are commissioned by September this year. Mr Rao is scheduled to visit Neyveli Lignite Corporation, which is putting up a 1,000 MW project at Tuticorin. This project too has been delayed very much and has been a point of some friction between BHEL and NLC. more at: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/article3707475.ece

BHEL Q1 beats estimates; profit up 12.9%

Bharat Heavy Electricals (BHEL), one of the largest engineering and manufacturing companies in India, announced quarterly results on Thursday which came above the market expectations. It reported a rise of 12.92% in net profit to Rs 9.20 billion for the quarter ended June 30, 2012 as compared to Rs 8.15 billion in the same period last year. The market was expecting profit to come at Rs 8.5 billion. Net sales for the quarter rose 16.89% to Rs 83.26 billion, while total income for the quarter rose 16.46% to Rs 88.05 billion, when compared with the prior year period. Net sales was also above the market expectations of Rs 77.83 billion. EBITDA margin came below estimates at 13.1% for the quarter as against expectations of 14.8%. The company`s outstanding order book at Rs 1,330 billion. Shares of the company gained Rs 1.95, or 0.9%, to trade at Rs 218.20. The total volume of shares traded was 594,538 at the BSE (12.34 p.m., Thursday). ref: http://www.myiris.com/newsCentre/storyShow.php?fileR=20120726123905199&dir=2012/07/26&secID=resultanal&code1=&code=

BHEL commissions solar plant in Karnataka

Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) has commissioned a 5-mw grid-connected solar power plant at Shivanasamudram near Mandya in Karnataka. BHEL has so far commissioned 15 mw of solar power plants in various parts of the country during fiscal 2011-12. The Shivanasamudram project set up for Karnataka Power Corporation Ltd is the single largest solar photovoltaic power plant in the state, a BHEL statement said. BHEL's scope of work included design, manufacture, supply, erection and commissioning of the solar plant. BHEL also operate and maintain the solar power plant for a period of three years. "The solar power plant is operating satisfactorily since synchronising with the main grid," the statement said. In line with the growth in this field, BHEL is planning to augment its manufacturing facility for solar PV modules during the current fiscal. ref: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/energy/power/bhel-commissions-solar-plant-in-karnataka/articleshow/15139295.cms

General manager among three BHEL officials arrested for bribery

A CBI team from Gandhinagar laid a trap and the accused general manager, Vinaykumar Agrawal, was caught red-handed while demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 50,000, whereas the engineer trainee — Umesh Aglawe — in charge of purchase was caught red-handed while demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 60,000 on behalf of the other accused, senior engineer Vivek Kumar Kamal. more at: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/general-manager-among-three-bhel-officials-arrested-for-bribery/979163/

ONGC blames BHEL for delay in projects, inefficient commissioning

Public sector explorer ONGC blames equipment maker Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) for a year delay for commissioning 726.6-megawatt gas-based power project at Palatana in Tripura. ONGC offered the contract for two units of 363.3 MW combined cycle power plant to be set up in Tripura in June 23, 2008. The project was expected to be operational last year but has not started commercial operations till now. “There is no doubt that BHEL equipment is good. But, the company is far from efficient in project commissioning. ONGC had to manage for transportation of equipment after diplomatic talks with Bangladesh. This was not our job. BHEL just gave the transportation tender to ABC Ltd and then more at : http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/article3669905.ece?homepage=true&ref=wl_home

BHEL plans 'model production cluster' to end cartelisation

In order to break the cartelization of industrial consumables, the BHEL Small Scale Industries Development Service, now in its new avatar as Bidass, has embarked on a model cluster of networking. Bidass which has now 397 member units spread around Trichy region was formed as the first network cluster in the early 1980s and later incorporated as a Section 25 registered company under the Indian Companies Act, 1956. Started in 1984 with a membership of 13 units, Bidass has today grown to have 397 members as Trichy was fast becoming a hub of engineering activity for boiler industry in India. Many daring entrepreneurs had set up fabrication facilities and machine shops in and around Trichy, and a group of entrepreneurs had established their units to cater to the ancillary needs of BHEL and similar boiler manufacturing companies. more at : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/madurai/BHEL-plans-model-production-cluster-to-end-cartelisation/articleshow/15066135.cms

BHEL close to bag Rs 1000cr contract; stock rises

Bharat Heavy Electricals (BHEL) is close to bagging Rs 1000 crore locomotive manufacturing contract from Pakistan, reports Business Standard. It touched an intraday high of Rs 234.85 and an intraday low of Rs 231.15. t 10:51 hrs the share was quoting at Rs 234.20, up Rs 1.55, or 0.67%. It was trading with volumes of 154,947 shares. In the previous trading session, the share closed down 1.36% or Rs 3.20 at Rs 232.65. The share touched its 52-week high Rs 405.00 and 52-week low Rs 197.80 on 26 Jul, 2011 and 18 May, 2012, respectively. Currently, it is trading -42.17% below its 52-week high and 18.4% above its 52-week low. Market capitalisation stands at Rs 57,322.79 crore. ref: http://www.moneycontrol.com/news/buzzing-stocks/bhel-close-to-bag-rs-1000cr-contract-stock-rises_729280.html

BHEL to chug into Pakistan

In what could be a major boost to Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL)’s railway business, the state-run power equipment firm is close to winning a contract worth Rs 1,000 crore from Pakistan to manufacture railway locomotives. This will be the company’s first deal in the neighbouring country and is happening at a time when both India and Pakistan have started opening channels of bilateral trade. “In recent government-to-government talks, the need for locomotives has been identified as one of the requirements for Pakistan and we have made an offer to supply locos,” said B Prasada Rao, chairman and managing director of Bhel. “Of late, we have started getting more locomotive orders. We have increased our capacity to produce locomotives at our Jhansi plant to 50 per year from 30. This year, we will increase the capacity to 75 and then to 100 per year as we expect continuous business from the Indian Railways on this front,” Rao told Business Standard. Both India and Pakistan inherited their rail network from the British and have similar systems. Pakistan now has about 7,800 km of railway network. It is looking at strengthening its railway system. more at: http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/bhel-to-chug-into-pakistan/480187/

BHEL to announce Q1 results on July 26, 2012

A meeting of the Board of Directors of Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd will be held on July 26, 2012, to consider and take on record the Unaudited Financial Results of the Company for the quarter ended on June 30, 2012. The Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd stock was trading at Rs.232.35, down by Rs.3.50 or 1.48%. The stock hit an intraday high of Rs.235.20 and low of Rs.231.60. The total traded quantity was 1.94 lakhs compared to 2 week average of 4.96 lakhs. Source: Equity Bulls Posted On: 2012-07-11 02:04:59 ref: http://www.equitybulls.com/admin/news2006/news_det.asp?id=107487

Probe scrapping of tender for power units: Somaiya

Alleging a scam of Rs 1,000 crore in the state's power sector, the Opposition on Saturday demanded an investigation into the cancellation of tender for setting up power units at Siratgarh and Chhabra. The tender was allotted to BHEL but according to BJP national secretary Kirit Somaiya, it was scrapped after a deliberate delay in issuing work order and without any reason. "No explanation has been given by the Ashok Gehlot government over why the tender was scrapped and what is the need for re-tendering,'' said Somaiya, while addressing the media at the state BJP headquarters. He alleged that the tender was scrapped by the government in order to benefit a private firm, who was the next bidder for the project. The difference between the tenders was of Rs 1,000 crore and the state government has deliberately delayed the work by raising various queries for BHEL, which is a renowned company. All to benefit a private firm,'' said Somiya. more at: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/Probe-scrapping-of-tender-for-power-units-Somaiya/articleshow/14739493.cms

MRPL pushes BHEL to ready captive power plants quickly

Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL) , is waiting for a quick completion of its captive power plant. The commissioning of all the units under Phase III of its project hinges on the functioning of the power plant. P. P. Upadhya, the new Chairman and Managing Director, who took over from U.K.Basu on July 1, told The Hindu on Wednesday that MRPL had been 'pushing' Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) to finish the plant soon. BHEL has undertaken the long-term turnkey job of building the power plant for MRPL, a subsidiary of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation. “The BHEL power plant has to get into operation.” It (BHEL) had said that the power plant would be ready by July but that was doubtful, he said. The upcoming captive power plant will havea generating capacity of 110 MW, and will enable MRPL to commission its units instantly instead of in instalments. At present, five gas turbines generating 85 MW power and steam are being used for all operations. more at: http://www.thehindu.com/business/companies/article3606779.ece

BHEL sets up 250 MW gas turbine in Delhi

Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd on Thursday said it has commissioned the third 250 MW advanced-class gas turbine Pragati-III project at Bawana in New Delhi. Now, 1,000 megawatts is available for feeding power to the grid from this station. “With this, BHEL has commissioned 2,250 MW in the first quarter of the current fiscal,” it said in a statement. The project comprises two power blocks of 750 MW each fired by natural gas. Treated water from a nearby sewage treatment plant is being used as the source for raw water for the plant. This power plant is equipped with two steam turbines of 250 MW each and can be operated in both open cycle and closed cycle mode, BHEL added. ref: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/article3605280.ece