Electricity Odisha to focus on power equipment

In a first of its kind in the state, Utkal Chamber of Commerce and Industry(UCCI), an apex body of industry representatives, will organize a four day long exhibition-cum-seminar on power sector under the banner Electricity Odisha-2012, starting from January 20.

The seminar will focus on power generation, power supply, rural electrification programmes and setting up of power equipment manufacturing units in the state through cluster development approach.

“Equipment used by the power companies such as transformers, breakers, pumps and motors which are now imported from other states should not be allowed and efforts should be made to set up units to produce these items in the state,” said Debabrata Dash, secretary, UCCI.

The technical sessions to be attended by various government officials from central and state PSUs will ruminate on the reduction of transmission and distribution loss as the state is still grappling with aggregate technical & commercial losses (AT&C) of about 40 per cent in the power sector.

The event is aimed at projecting the state as a hub for power generation and a distribution centre for manufacturing of power equipment, electrical accessories and control equipment, said Ramesh Mahapatra, President, UCCI. The mega event on the power sector, jointly organized by the chamber and the state government, will be inaugurated by the state Chief Minister Naveen Pattnaik while Union minister of energy, Susil kumar Shinde will attend the occasion as chief guest.