Bharat Heavy Electricals limited’s (BHEl) largest ever export order worth `10,000 crore (US$1.5 billion) for setting up 1,320 MW (2x660 MW) Maitree Super Thermal Power Project in Bangladesh has taken off following the notice to proceed issued by the developer.
Notably, BHEl is India’s largest manufacturer of power generation equipment with a formidable installed base of over 1,70,000 MW of power plant equipment globally. In the supercritical segment, BHEl has successfully demonstrated its leadership status and technological prowess in the manufacturing and execution of 660 MW, 700 MW and 800 MW sets.
BHEl officials said that won against stiff international competitive bidding, this was BHEl’s largest power project order in the international market. The order has been secured from Bangladesh- India Friendship Power Company (Pvt) limited (BIFPCl), a 50:50 JV company of NTPC, India and BPDB, Bangladesh, they said, adding that BHEl had arranged debt financing for the project from the EXIM Bank of India for which the loan agreement between EXIM Bank of India and BIFPCl has been signed in March this year.
BHEl’s scope of work in the project includes design, engineering, manufacture, supply, construction, erection, testing and commissioning of 2x660 MW thermal sets with ultra-supercritical parameters on turnkey basis. The scope also includes setting up of a jetty and a river-water intake system.
In order to meet stringent environmental norms, BHEl would also install a state-of-the-art FGD plant and dry bottom ash handling system, the BHEl officials informed. They also said that the order would provide a fillip to the company’s focus on globalization as a driver of future growth.
The key equipment for the project would be manufactured at BHEl’s Trichy, Haridwar, Hyderabad, Ranipet, Bhopal, Bangalore and Jhansi plants while the company's Power Sector construction division would be responsible for construction and installation activities at the project site.
BHEl has had a long association with Bangladesh’s power sector – the company’s first major project in the country was the 100 MW Baghabari Gas Turbine Power Project (GTPP) which was commissioned in 2001.
Subsequently, BHEl constructed 2x120 MW Siddhirganj GTPP, besides setting up 220 kV Baghabari and Ishurdi substations.