Sarani plant fire: MP power generating company blames 'faulty' BHEL technology

The Madhya Pradesh Power Generating Company Limited (MPPGCL) has categorically blamed the Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited's (BHEL) faulty designed bushing technology for the fire at its Sarani power plant on Friday night. "Earlier a similar incident (of fire) had occurred at Shri Singhaji Thermal Plant where fire broke out at unit number 1 on November 18, 2013 resulting in closure of that unit for about a month. Similarly, unit 2 also suffered for a month due to fire on January 21, 2015. Both incidents of fire happened because of (the) faulty bushing system in transformers," said Vijendra Nanawati, managing director of MPPGCL. In the earlier incidents, BHEL had then replaced the faulty bushing system with bushings made in another company. Bushings of unit number 10 and 11 of Satpura Thermal Plant were also to be replaced by BHEL, said a press communiqué issued by the power generating company. It also said that in 2007 the NTPC had also complained about the faulty bushing system design and had banned the BHEL product. BHEL chief spokesperson AK Chaturvedi, however, has denied all the charges and said it was too early to comment on the issue. "This is a technical matter and I cannot comment on the issue without taking feedback from the technical team," said Chaturvedi. ref: http://www.hindustantimes.com/bhopal/sarani-plant-fire-mp-power-generating-company-blames-faulty-bhel-technology/article1-1373419.aspx

BHEL inks three strategic pacts in Kazakhstan

BHEL has signed three agreements with Kazakh companies during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to the country. The first pact was signed with JSC Samruk Energy, the national power utility of Kazakhstan which has a major share in Kazakh's power sector, BHEL said in a statement. BHEL said the two companies will work together on the project of mutual interest. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was exchanged in the presence of Indian Prime Minister and the Prime Minister Kazakhstan at the Indo-Kazakh Business Forum. Another pact was inked with KUS, one of the largest utility companies in the country's power sector, towards comprehensive co-operation in the energy sector for design and construction of power plants and CHP (combined heat and power plants). KUS is owned by the Ordabassy Group which has total assets of more than USD 9 billion. BHEL and KAZNEX INVEST, the National Export and Investment Agency of Kazakhstan, also agreed on co-operation in attempting projects in Kazakhstan and a MoU to this effect was also signed. Kazakhstan remains the cornerstone of BHEL's CIS operations with its regional office being located in Almaty. There are five BHEL make gas turbine generators (of 42 MW each) which are already installed at the Tengizchevroil complex in Atyrau. Read more at: http://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/bhel-inks-three-strategic-pactskazakhstan_2113061.html?utm_source=ref_article

Bhel gets Telangana projects sans bidding

The K C Rao-led Telangana government has awarded the turnkey contract of three power projects - adding up to 6,000 MW capacity and to be built at a cost of Rs 27,360 crore ($4.3 billion) - in the state to government-owned power equipment manufacturer Bharat Heavy Electricals (Bhel) on nomination basis, without floating a mandatory competitive bid. What's more, it has also taken an in-principle decision to award all upcoming power projects to the government firm on a nomination basis, without calling for competitive bids. The move has raised eyebrows of private equipment manufacturers such as Alstom, Bharat Forge, Larsen and Toubro, Toshiba-JSW, among others, which are likely to approach the competition watchdog - Competition Commission of India (CCI). They are worried given that the newly formed Telangana state is likely to award projects worth Rs 90,500 crore to raise its electricity capacity from 4,320 MW to 25,000 MW in the next four years. ref: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/Bhel-gets-Telangana-projects-sans-bidding/articleshow/48181954.cms

BHEL commissions 10 MW solar power plant in Karnataka

Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited has commissioned a 10 MW solar plant for Karnataka Power Corporation Limited in that state. Significantly, this is also the largest solar power plant commissioned for KPCL till date in Karnataka, BHEL said in a statement. The 10 MW Grid connected Solar PV plant near Shivanasamudram is the 3rd MW scale PV project commissioned by BHEL for KPCL and the second at the same location. Earlier, the company had commissioned a 5 MW solar power plant here for KPCL, besides a 3 MW solar power plant near Raichur, the statement added. BHEL's scope of work included design, manufacture, supply, testing, erection and commissioning of the solar power plant. The SPV plants are built using Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaic (C-SI PV) technology which is well proven and has the longest operational experience across the world. BHEL will also operate and maintain the solar power plant for a period of 3 years, it added. Cumulatively, BHEL has so far commissioned 70 MW of large rating solar power plants in the country. BHEL is one of the few leading players in the field of solar photovoltaics who have completed EPC capability backed by fully automated manufacturing line for solar cells and modules. ref: http://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/bhel-commissions-10-mw-solar-power-plantkarnataka_1901701.html

BHEL Tiruchirappalli awards top-performing vendors

BHEL (Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd), Tiruchirappalli on Monday awarded six of its vendors who supply castings, forgings and raw materials for valves for their outstanding performance in the last financial year. A V Krishnan, executive director, BHEL Tiruchirappalli, presented the awards at the two-day Vendor Meet on Castings, Forgings and Raw materials held at Welding Research Institute Auditorium. The awardees were selected on the basis of their contribution towards new product development, consistent high performance and excellence in quality. They were presented with a shield and a certificate. Speaking on the occasion, Krishnan said the meet was a good platform for both BHEL and its business partners to understand each other's requirements and constraints and to bring forward ideas which would address the customer requirements effectively and efficiently. Pointing to the positive trend in the power sector, Krishnan called for more process improvement activities to meet customer expectations in terms of quality, cost and cycle time. The Vendor Meet was inaugurated by S Gopinath, executive director, Power Plant Piping Unit and BHEL Piping Centre. more at : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/trichy/BHEL-Tiruchirappalli-awards-top-performing-vendors/articleshow/47965456.cms

Bhel commissions Sudan's largest power project

Bhel today said it has commissioned Sudan's largest power plant. Bhel has executed this project on Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) basis. It has designed, manufactured, supplied and installed the complete power project (4 units of 125 MW each) including associated civil works. "Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (Bhel) has added another feather in its cap by successfully commissioning the 500 MW Kosti Thermal Power Station (TPS) in Sudan. Significantly, Kosti TPS (4x125 MW) is now Sudan's largest Power Plant," Bhel said in a release. The project uses crude oil from South Sudan as fuel, for which Bhel has designed special boilers. All the major equipment for the project -- boilers, steam-turbines, generators, Controls & Instrumentation (C&I), transformers -- have been manufactured in-house. more at: http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/bhel-commissions-sudan-s-largest-power-project-115070100359_1.html