Areva's eight mfg units to start operations this week

With a view to capitalising on growing demand for energy in the country, Areva T&D India, the transimission and distribution division of French major Areva, is all set to commission operations at its eight new manufacturing facilities in India. The company today kicked off four factories at Kotambi near Vadodara in Gujarat.

Areva T&D has infused around Rs. 950 crore for its green field manufacturing facilties in Gujarat, Karnataka and Chennai. The four new units of the company inaugrated today include factories for manufacturing power transformers, distribution transformers, primary distribution equipments and secondary equipments.

"The demand for energy in India is rising. We are investing in creating additional capacities and technology in India", said Philippe Guillemot, chairman and chief executive of Areva T&D at its site near Vadodara. Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi inaugrated Areva's new facilties.

"India offers a huge market for power transformers as many power plants are being set up to meet the rising demand of power of the country", Narendra Modi added. The new factories in the state will offer direct employment to 1,000 people, while remaining will offer job opportunity to 500 workers.

"Areva aims to double its sales in India after the commissioning of 8 new manufacturing facilities. "Last year our sales of products manufactured by 16 factories in India were to the tune of Rs. 2,000 crore and we expect it to be Rs. 4,000 crore over the next couple of years", said Guillemot.

Currently, India accounts for 10 per cent of Areva's orderbook globally and the company intends to increase the percentage to 14 per cent by 2010.

Talking about the global expansion plans of Areva, Guillemot added that the company invested around 2,000 crore (300 million Euros) last year and it will infuse significantly large amount for its new projects globally. The company is at present setting up two new plants in China.