Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd has expressed serious concern over the limited number and capability of construction contractors on one hand and vendors of balance-of-plant material on the other. According to the public sector major, the capabilities of manufacturers for both standard and supercritical units as well as other main plant package materials were in sync with the planned capacity addition, but delays in acquiring BoP material and issues regarding construction contracts were a menace to the timely com
pletion of power projects.
Bhel officials, at a recent meeting with the ministry of power, said that India had limited number and capability of construction contractors as well as vendors of balance-of-plant materials such as coal and ash handling systems, water treatment plants, cooling water systems, air-conditioning and ventilation systems, fire protection systems, cooling towers, construction equipment, and civil works and services.
The equipment manufacturer stated that it was necessary to encourage indigenous industry to set up capacity for key inputs like high-grade CRGO steel for generators and transformers, critical casting and forgings for turbines generators, boiler quality plates, and special quality piping material as most of these items were currently being imported. There was a need to develop new qualified erection and commissioning agencies and contractors to take up civil, mechanical and electrical works in the construction of large power plants, they felt. Existing players also needed to be encouraged to augment and build up capacities. Standardisation of unit ratings, layouts and specifications for thermal plants would enable batch production of equipment and these can be tied up with various equipment vendors, the officials said, adding that the vendor base in each area should be enlarged.