Govt moves to promote local production of solar panels and modules
23 Nov 2012
The government has made it mandatory for developers of solar power projects under Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM) to procure Indian-made solar cells and modules in order to safeguard the interest of solar power industry in the country.
As such all solar power developers under Phase-I of JNNSM, using crystalline silicon technology, are required to procure cells and modules manufactured in India, minister for heavy industries and public enterprises Praful Patel informed Parliament today.
He said the government has also extended custom duty exemption for import of all raw materials that go into the manufacture of solar cells and modules.
Further, all items of machinery required for initial setting up of a solar power generation project or facility are fully exempt from excise duty, subject to fulfillment of certain conditions mentioned therein. Moreover, such goods enjoy concessional rate of customs duty of 5 per cent ad valrem.
The minister said the move comes in the backdrop of China dumping its cheap solar power equipment on project developers in India and elsewhere.
He said the cheaper equipment imported from China have become a threat for Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited's solar power equipment project.
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