BHEL learning super critical boiler technology

Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL), a major producer of power equipment and industrial goods, is learning the technology to supply super critical boilers on its own without any outside support, a company official said.

A super critical boiler is one that performs under very high pressure.

“By 2013, we will learn the super critical boiler technology. Then we do not need technical assistance from Alstom anymore,” BHEL Executive Director A.V. Krishnan told reporters here Friday.

BHEL has inked a 15-year technology sourcing agreement with Alstom, a global leader in power generation. It will pay Alstom royalty for super critical boilers made with technology provided by the latter.

Currently, BHEL is supplying NTPC and APGENCO super critical boilers for two of their projects sourcing technology from Alstom.

According to Krishnan, once the two projects go on stream BHEL can show them as reference sites for those who demand such references.

However, if BHEL uses Alstom’s engineering designs then it is liable to pay the agreed royalty.

He said as per the agreement Alstom cannot sell super critical boilers in India till 2020.

Asked about competition from China, Krishnan said: “The Chinese power equipment manufacturers do not any more pose a threat to BHEL as many of the power companies are burning their hands with the foreign equipment and are coming back to us”.

“Orders for power generation equipment for a capacity of 15,000 MW have been placed with us by companies who had earlier ordered Chinese equipments,” he added.

Jaypee Group, Jindal India Thermal Ltd, Pipavav Energy, India Bulls Group, Jhabua Power, Adhunik Power, Abhijit Infra are some of the power generators which have come to BHEL after placing orders with Chinese equipment manufacturers.

Refuting complaints that BHEL delays in executing orders, he said: “Only 40 percent of the equipment needed for power generation is supplied by us. The balance has to come from others and delay happens at their end for which we are blamed.”

In many cases, the project sites are not accessible to carry the equipment for want of proper roads, he said.