Alstom Bharat Forge Power bags Rs1,570 crore NTPC order

Alstom Bharat Forge Power Ltd (ABFPL), the joint-venture between Bharat Forge Ltd and Alstom, has bagged a Rs1,570-crore order from NTPC Ltd for the engineering, manufacturing, supply, erection and commissioning of 2x660MW supercritical steam 'turbine generator islands' (TG Islands) for the power producer's upcoming project in Solapur in Maharashtra.

Last year, ABFPL had emerged as the lowest bidder in NTPC's bulk tender for supply of 11x660 MW super critical TG Islands. This tender was the largest-ever power equipment procurement initiative in the country.

As part of this bulk tender, besides this award for Solapur project, as per the tender conditions, ABFPL expects to get an additional order shortly for three units for the Nabinagar Project from Nabinagar Power Generating Co Pvt Ltd (NPGCPL), a JV between NTPC and Bihar State Electricity Board (BSEB). A letter of intent for this project is already with ABFPL.

Supercritical plants use steam at very high temperatures and pressure, which leads to greater efficiency than conventional coal-fired plants.  Such plants also consume less coal and also produce less emissions per unit of power produced than conventional plants.

ABFPL's state-of-the-art manufacturing facility with an annual capacity of 5,000 MW is expected to be commissioned at Mundra in Gujarat by 2013. On completion, the facility, which is also the largest of its kind  for power equipment in the private sector will play a crucial role in the expansion of generation capacity in India. The facility will address the rising power demand of India's rapidly growing economy and will also demonstrate the partners' resolve to make India a global manufacturing hub for technologically advanced power equipment.

''As part of its breakout growth strategy, Bharat Forge is committed to strengthen India's rapidly growing economy by manufacturing advanced, technology-driven capital goods and ushering in a paradigm change in building sustainable infrastructure to meet aspirations of its 1.2 billion people. Bharat Forge's world-class manufacturing capabilities and Alstom's globally-renowned technology prowess have been synthesised in this venture to make India an international manufacturing hub for power equipment'' said Baba Kalyani, chairman of Kalyani Group and ABFPL.