BHEL Ranipet eyes Rs 100cr exports by fiscal 2011-12

The Ranipet unit of Bharat Heavy Electrical Ltd (BHEL) is planning to increase its export business to Rs 100 crore by 2011-12 from the current Rs 30 crore, said AV Krishnan, executive director, BHEL – Ranipet.

The Ranipet unit manufactures auxiliaries for boilers and exports products like flue gas, fans, air pre-heaters and other auxiliaries used by the power sector.

The unit is also planning to enter the US and European markets in the next two years. It currently caters to countries like Malyasia, Libya, Africa, Egypt and West Asia, said Krishnan.

Meanwhile, the unit is planning to focus on water desalination plants. Krishnan said the demand for such plants had increased with the government insisting that the new thermal power plants install their own self-generating water projects and not use natural water. The unit expects such projects to contribute 30 per cent to the total turnover or Rs 1,500 crore by 2011-12.

It has orders for setting up six brackish water de-mineralisation/seawater desalination plants in Gujarat Pragathi (Delhi), Bellary and North Chennai.

 On the global recession, Krishnan said 2008-09 was a turbulent year. In the first half of 2008-09, prices of steel and petroleum products rose 60-70 per cent. For instance, steel coils rose to Rs 70,000-72,000 a tonne from Rs 33,000-34,000. The trend continued till September 2008, after which prices started coming down and is now back to Rs 32,000.