CEA panel praises chinese power equipment makers

Says quality as good as Indian-made, deliveries much quicker.

A committee appointed by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has observed that Chinese power equipment is as good as that made here. In addition, it says, the latter’s deliveries are much quicker.

This has come even as the Centre awaits a report from a committee headed by Planning Commission member Arun Maira on enabling Indian power plant and equipment manufacturers to take on Chinese companies.

CEA sources told Business Standard on Monday that “the report findings have also been submitted to the Maira committee”.

According to the CEA panel report, due to the huge manufacturing capacity available in China, their delivery of boiler turbine generator (BTG) equipment is much quicker and they have lower cost. There have been no delays till date due to supply of equipment, as happens with indigenous manufacture.

Many of the Chinese units in operation have achieved a plant load factor (PLF) of more than 90 per cent in recent months. The average PLF for the past three months (September to November) for these units is 81 per cent. Where PLF is lower, it appears due to domestic issues such as coal quality and transmission constraints.

Currently, thermal power generation equipment of 21,055 Mw for the XIth Plan (of which 2,865 Mw has been commissioned) and 13,870 Mw for the XIIth Plan has been ordered from Chinese manufacturers. Out of 43 supercritical units ordered so far, 20 units have been ordered on Chinese manufacturers.

The report has also listed problems faced by some stations with Chinese BTG. There have been cases of poor response from the original equipment manufacturer on spares. Getting the services of Chinese engineers for trouble-shooting is another problem, but this is largely due to the government’s visa policy. Besides, there are problems in communication with Chinese engineers due to the language barrier. There has also been a lack of transparency in providing detail on equipment and controls and rigidity in operation procedures.