BHEL exploring options to enhance forging capacity

State-run power equipment maker Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) is exploring picking equity in domestic casting and forging ventures or buy them from the East European market to enhance its manufacturing capacity.

The blue-chip company is also planning to speed up manufacturing through its forging joint venture with UK-based Sheffield.

"We are looking at three possibilities -- jacking up our forging manufacturing capacity with Sheffield, sourcing from the East European countries for our short term requirement or take equity in joint ventures (set up) for casting and forging," BHEL CMD K Ravi Kumar told reporters here.

But this may happen in the due course of time, "We have to take approvals from various ministries, which will take time," he said.

BHEL has tied-up with UK-based Sheffield (Forgemasters) on a technology transfer basis for manufacturing forging.

Meanwhile, the company is expecting 6-7 orders from the private sector to supply sub-critical equipment for 600-MW and 270-MW power projects.

"A lot of projects are achieving financial closure, therefore we hope to get more orders," he said.

BHEL is also anticipating order from NTPC for its joint venture with the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB).

"We may get orders to supply boiler-turbine package for the third unit of NTPC's 500-MW power project with TNEB in the state," he said.

The company plans to manufacture equipments to generate about 20,000 MW of power by 2011 and is investing Rs 10,000 crore on organic expansion in the 11th plan period.