Proposal cleared to confer Maharatna status on BHEL: Patel

The minister was speaking during a visit to the public sector giant's High Pressure Boiler Plant and the Seamless Steel Tube Plant (SSTP) here last night.

The Minister asked BHEL to look for new avenues for growth, including new business areas such as solar energy.

BHEL had a long and glorious tradition of contribution to the development of the nation and it is one of the finest companies in the world, he said while addressing BHEL employees.

The 49,000-strong technical and committed workforce of BHEL hailing from all parts of the country, was one of the biggest assets of the country, he said and expressed confidence that with its strong technical base and vast engineering skill, the company would shine despite the global economic slowdown.

Patel also visited the R&D facilities including the Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle demonstration plant.

At SSTP, the Minister inaugurated the charging of the rotary hearth furnace following the modernisation and capacity augmentation which had been trebled.