WCA November 2013

India

“This confers additional powers to the company to potentially arm-twist private players,” FICCI said in a research paper. The industry body suggested that it would be better if a neutral entity, such as an independent Central Transmission Utility, became the tariff collection agency. At present, transmission projects are offered through the tendering route and are identified by an Empowered Committee (EC) consisting of officials from the central electricity regulatory commission (CERC), central electricity authority (CEA), NTPC and Power Grid. “Being part of the EC, Power Grid is likely to be privy to commercially sensitive information and [the] decision making process while private players do not even have any representation,” the FICCI paper observed, adding that Power Grid should not be allowed to be a member of the EC due to a conflict of interests. Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry – India Website : www.ficci.com Kudankulam plant to link with grid

“As of now, there is no direct route from Basholi to Pathankote and the only route available is via the Ranjit Sagar dam, Riyalta and Lakhanpur area with a route distance of 72km. “Once the Ravi Bridge is constructed and operational, the total route distance will be reduced to 46km. The new bridge will not only reduce the distance by as much as 26km, but also result in reduction of travel time between the two places.” Border Roads Organisation – India Website : www.bro.nic.in Cable plant doubles capacity The consumer electrical and electronics company V-Guard has doubled the manufacturing capacity at its cable factory in Uttarakhand. The company’s facility in Kashipur currently manufactures 300,000 coils per month. With the expansion, the total capacity of the plant will increase to 600,000 coils, a statement said. “The capacity enhancement is part of the company’s objective to strengthen its north and east India operations. Through this, the company will now be able to cater to the increasing demand for V-Guard cables in these regions,” said managing director Mithun Chittilappilly. “The copper processing capacity of the factory will now be 8,500 tonnes per annum.” The capacity addition will result in a 100 per cent increase in revenue for the company from the cable business. V-Guard – India Website : www.vguard.in Power Grid with too much power? Indian industry body Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) has suggested that the state-run Power Grid Corp should no longer be the central transmission utility. Power Grid was conferred with the title of Central Transmission Utility in 1998, empowering it to undertake electricity transmission through an inter-state transmission system, to discharge planning functions, and to provide open access to the system. “Currently, Power Grid is [the] tariff collection agency: it collects tariffs from power generators, state electricity boards et cetera and, retaining its share, distributes the remaining to other private licensees.

The first unit of the Kudankulam nuclear power plant (KNPP) is to be connected to the grid by the end of August 2013, now that the atomic energy regulatory board (AERB) has agreed to a 50 per cent increase in power generation, up to 500MW. KNPP’s site director, R S Sundar, told the Press Trust of India that the unit has to apply again for clearance to reach 750MW, 900MW and 1,000MW. “Right now we have already started work for 750MW mark. Once we are done with the tests, we will apply to the AERB for its clearance,” he said. Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) is constructing two 1,000MW units at KNPP, in a joint project with Russia at Kudankulam. The unit attained criticality in July this year after much delay, following protests against the project by anti-nuclear activists in areas around the complex. Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd – India Website : www.npcil.nic.in ❍ The KNPP infrastructure project. Photograph courtesy of the Hindu Business Line

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Wire & Cable ASIA – November/December 2013