Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd, Tiruchi, has chalked out a major capacity expansion programme in the next two years at an investment of Rs 600 crore.

This includes the Phase III expansion for a high pressure boiler plant at the existing unit and the Thirumayam unit, which will cater tothe demand from petrochemical industries and nuclear equipment manufacturers.

The Rs 293-crore Thirumayam unit, which will be operational by the end of this year, will have a shop area of about 39,000 sq m.

Speaking to a group of mediapersons from Kochi, Mr A.V. Krishnan, Executive Director, Tiruchi Complex, said the unit is all set to achieve a record turnover of Rs 12,765 crore, and has set a turnover growth of over 30 per cent for 2011-12.

The company registered a turnover of Rs 10,008 crore during 2009-10 against Rs 7,640 crore in the previous year. The Tiruchi complex, which contributes 30 per cent of the company's overall turnover and 40 per cent of the group's profit, has outstanding orders worth Rs 38,600 crore till November 2010.

During the year, the complex has bagged all-time high orders of Rs 15,875 crore, he said.

The production through outsourcing from over 500 vendors also crossed a record four lakh tonnes of boiler structures, 25 per cent more than last year.

A target of 7 lakh tonnes has been set for 2010-11, he added.

Referring to the overall manufacturing capacity of BHEL units altogether, he said with 15 manufacturing units, the company has realised the capability to deliver 15,000 MW per annum in March 2010, and the capacity expansion programme is underway to reach 20,000 MW by 2012.

Stiff competition

He pointed out that the company is also facing stiff competition from Chinese firms that are offering 20 per cent cheaper prices.

In line with the ruling market trends, the company has also set up offices overseas and taken up new initiatives in the European markets.

The company is also looking at solar thermal plants as part of clean energy project, he said.

BHEL is one of the few companies worldwide involved in the development of Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) technology which would usher in clean technology.

Towards this, a 6.2 MW IGCC research facility has been set up at the unit. The company has signed an MoU with APGENCO for setting up a 182 MW plant at Vijayawada as a technology demonstration project, he said.

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