BHEL wins Rs17,950-cr thermal plant order in Telangana

State-run Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has been awarded the single-largest order in its history, for setting up a 4,000 MW (5x800 MW) super-critical thermal power project for the Telangana State Power Generation Corporation Limited (TSGENCO).

Valued at Rs17,950 crore, the 5x800 MW Yadadri Thermal Power Project, with super-critical parameters, to be constructed on engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) basis, at Damaracherla in Nalgonda district of the state, is also one of the highest value orders ever placed in the capital goods sector in India.

The order for building the plant at Damaracherla in Nalgonda district in the state comes close on the heels of the newly formed Telangana state utility placing two major orders on BHEL.

Earlier, in December 2014, TSGENCO had placed an order on BHEL for setting up Telangana's first supercritical thermal power plant of 800 MW rating, also on EPC basis, at Kothagudem, followed by an order for the 4x270 MW Bhadradari TPS at Manuguru in Khammam district in March 2015.

''This landmark order is a testimony to BHEL's proven technological excellence as also its capability in executing power projects of this magnitude on EPC basis,'' BHEl said in a release.

BHEL said project construction will be fast-tracked with both BHEL and TSGENCO setting up teams to expedite clearances and speedy execution of the project.

BHEL's scope of work in the project includes design, engineering, manufacture, supply, construction, erection, testing and commissioning of 5x800 MW thermal sets on EPC basis.

The key equipment for the contract will be manufactured at BHEL's Trichy, Haridwar, Hyderabad, Bhopal, Ranipet, Bangalore and Jhansi plants, while the company's power sector construction division will be responsible for civil works and erection / commissioning of the equipment.

BHEL has been a long standing partner in the development of the erstwhile combined state of Andhra Pradesh with 78 per cent of the coal-based power stations having been commissioned by the company.

In FY 2014-15, the plants set up by BHEL operated at a high plant load factor (PLF) of 83.5 per cent against the national average of 65.5 per cent.

Projects equipped with BHEL-supplied sets such as Ramagundam, Vijayawada, Kothagudem and Rayalaseema have consistently been winning meritorious awards for outstanding performance.

TSGENCO has entered into MoU with BHEL for construction of new thermal power plants totalling 6,000 MW in the state. All these power plants are expected to commence generation on fast track basis to meet the state's increasing demand for power.

BHEL will also be supplying its in-house developed fuel flexible Boiler, which is capable of firing the entire range, from 100 per cent Indian to 100 per cent imported mix of coal in order to overcome coal shortages.

With this order, BHEL has so far contracted 12 sets of main plant equipment, comprising boilers and turbine generators, of 800 MW rating. In addition, BHEL has contracted another four boilers of this rating.