Toshiba JSW plant to go on stream in 2011

Japan-based Toshiba Corporation today said the first phase of its proposed Rs 800 crore plant at Ennore near here for manufacturing steam turbines and generators for thermal power plants was likely to commence operations by January 2011.

Out of the Rs 800 crore ($160 million) investment, around 80 per cent would be utilised in the first phase, Atsuhiko Izumi, Executive Vice-President, Power Systems Company, Toshiba Corporation, told reporters here.

The company has joined hands with Karnataka-based JSW Energy and formed a joint venture 'Toshiba JSW Turbine and Generator' for setting up the factory at Ennore, about 50 kms from here. It signed a memorandum of understanding with the Tamil Nadu government yesterday for lease of land.

Izumi said the factory would create direct employment to 500 people by 2014, he said.

With the new entity 'Toshiba JSW' would manufacture and market mid-to-large sized steam turbines and generators, ranging in size from 500 Mw to 1,000 Mw for highly efficient super-critical thermal power plants, he said but declined to answer questions on expected revenue from the plant.

The government has given four lakh square metres of land and would provide power and water facilities, he said adding recruitment for the new facility would start immediately.

JSW Energy and Toshiba had entered into tie-up in September 2008 with Toshiba holding 75 per cent stake in the JV, JSW Energy Joint Managing Director and Director of Toshiba JSW Turbine and Generator S S Rao said.