NTPC-BHEL JV finally underway

Shortage of balance-of-plant (BoP) equipment manufacturers is a critical hurdle faced by the power sector of India. However, in some good news, the joint-venture formed by NTPC and BHEL-- NTPC-BHEL Power Projects Private Limited (NBPPL)-- to address this critical issue has finally made some headway in its bid to alleviate the problem. 

•  NBPPL has now acquired all the 750 acres of land needed for its manufacturing facilities, at Mannvaram village, in the Chittor district of Andhra Pradesh. Besides, NBPPL has also completed various activities preliminary to start of construction, including survey, demarcation, tying up electricity and water supplies, etc.
• The construction of the boundary wall also commenced in August, following inaugration of the plant site by the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh. 
• Moreover, the hunt for a suitable technology partner for BoP components is on a full swing, with two entities responding to the pertinent EoI document issued by the two PSUs.
• NBPPL has, so far, managed to bag only two BoP contacts-- that too from its parent firm, BHEL-- one for ONGC Tripura Company Limited`s 726 MW gas-based power project in Tripura and another for Assam Power Generating Company's 100 MW Namrup project in Assam. 
• However, the NTPC-BHEL JVC is also likely to bag the EPC contracts for NTPC`s 500 MW Singrauli, along with a 600 MW order from APGenco.
• NBPPL was set up in April 2008, to undertake engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contracts, as well as for manufacture and supply of equipment as a vendor to markets in India and abroad.