Areva T&D India's order book rises to Rs 4900 cr

Areva T&D India Ltd, the power transimission and distribution arm of Areva based in France, has witnessed a growth of 17 per cent in its order book at Rs 4,900 crore. The company has also showed its commitment to make additional investments to manufacture 1200 kV transformers in India.

"The sales of the company in India during 2009 (Jan-Dec) stood at Rs 3,500 crore and we have orders to the tune of Rs 4,900 crore," said Rathin Basu, country president and managing director Areva T&D at its facility near Vadodara.

The top officials of the company were at its Vadodara plant to attend a ceremony to unveil a 100 per cent localised 765 kV transformer manufactured by Areva for Lanco Infratech Ltd.

Areva has already made an investment of Rs 950 crore for three manufacturing facilities in India one each in Gujarat, Chennai and Karnataka. Around Rs 550 crore have been infused by the company for Vadodara manufacturing plant.

"The company has created capacity to meet transformers demand till 2012 and we are committed to make additional investments to manufacture 1200 kV ultra high voltage transformers," added Karim Vissandjee, CEO, Areva T&D Global.

The company has so designed its Vadodara plant as it can manufacture 1200 kV transformers by making additional investments. Addressing a gathering at the launch of 765 kV transformer, SK Chaturvedi, chairman and managing director, Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL), said that as many as 9 transmission superhighways would be set up in the country with a capital expenditure of Rs 60,000 crore to bring power to various parts of the country. "The work on one transmission superhighway between Assam and Agra has already begun," he added.

These transmission superhighways have been planned to provide transmission access to private developers and 756 kV transformers would be utilised for transmission superhighways.

Informing that the 11th five year plan has set a target of Rs 55,000 crore of capital expenditure for transmission infrastructure in the country, Chaturvedi added that Rs 90,000 crore would be spent for creation of transmission infrastructure in the 12th five year plan. Meanwhile, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, who was the chief guest at the function, expressed doubts over operationalisation of the Indo-US civil nuclear deal. He said that several factors, which India did not consider while signing the deal like compensation for accidents, are now posing as roadblocks for the deal's implementation.