Uma Shankar new Chief of Rural Electrification Corporation
P. Uma Shankar has taken over charge as Chairman and Managing Director of Rural
Electrification Corporation
Ltd. from March 1, 2008 succeeding Anil Kumar Lakhina. Prior to joining Rec,
Shankar was holding the charge of
Managing Director in of National Cooperatives Development Corporation, New
Delhi.
(Source: Times of India 4.3.2008)
Nathpa Jhakri Power Station Surpasses Targets
Nathpa Jhakri has become the first single hydro power station to surpass 6000
Million Units of electricity generation on 7.2.2008-53 days ahead
of the close of the Financial Year. This milestone has been achieved against all
odds like adverse hydrology, flash floods and high-silt contents.
Besides benefit to the stakeholders & the country, this will bring higher
revenues to equity partner Govt. of Himachal Pradesh with 12% free power
and 22% power on account of their energy share.
Shri R.P. Singh, Director(Electrical) Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Ltd. said that the
generation during the current period has also surpassed the MoU targets
with the Ministry of Power. Shri Singh also stated that the Company had
established spectacular achievements during the financial year 2006-07 and
recorded net profits of Rs.732.71 crore as well as paid dividends of Rs.235
crore to the equity partners for its performance during the financial
year 2006-07.
Kribhco plans Rs 4,000 cr power project in Bihar
Nirmalya Mukherjee / Bhubaneswar
Kribhco plans to set up a 1,000 mw joint venture project in Bihar in association
with the Bihar State Electricity Board (BSEB), at an investment of Rs 4,000
crore. This is the company’s second such project and confirms its
diversification into power generation and trading
activity. Along with IFFCO, Kribhco is one of the country’s major profit-making
fertiliser manufacturer. Kribhco is also moving into other businesses such as
setting up a jetty at its Hazira power plant and has entered into a tie-up with
the Railways for container
services. B.D. Sinha MD Kribhco, said, “These are part of our future expansion
and diversification programmes
across the country.”
(Source: Business Standard 20 March 2008)
Coal Output
COAL INDIA Ltd., with a production target of 405 million tonnes in 2008-09 might
fail to achieve the target, if it does not get the land and prompt forest
clearance required for expansion. "Coal India has to produce 25 million tonnes
additional coal in the next fiscal compared to 2007 08. It is a tough
target. If we do not get land and prompt forest clearance for different
expansion projects, we may experience a major shortfall," CIL chairman Partha S
Bhattacharya said here.
He said that the expansion projects which required immediate clearance include
Ashoka, Karo, Konar besides new projects like Hura and Chuparvita, all
under Central Coalfields Ltd in Jharkhand.
Source: The Indian Express 19th March 2008
Your Morning cup of coffee takes 140 litres of water to make
Prof John Anthony Allan, University of London, who developed a way to calculate
how much water is used in the production of anything from a cup of coffee to
hamburger, was awarded the 2008 Stockholm Water Prize on Wednesday. This
introduced the concept of ‘virtual water’, a calculation method that has changed
the nature of trade policy and research. Allan’s work had made a big impact on
global trade policy, especially
in water-scarce regions.
Source: The Economic Times 20 March 2008
Poor quality coal may attract up to 6% cess
The government has proposed a cess -2% to 6% of the coal price - on coal with
high ash content. The revenue has the potential to raise Rs 2,400 crore which
would be used to set up a national level coal fund for infrastructure for coal
washing, selective mining research and clean coal technologies. The proposal is
aimed at discouraging use of high ashcontent coal in industrial activities like
power generation, cement manufacturing, brick and paper. The high ash content
not only pollutes the atmosphere but also lowers the productivity of these
industries and consumes more energy. Coal India, has lined up investment in
several thousand crore rupees to set up washeries and supply only washed coal to
consumers.
Source: The Economic Times, 20th March 2008
Reliance Energy consortium wins the Delhi Airport Metro project of Rs 2,500
crore
Reliance Energy Limited in consortium with CAF of Spain has been awarded the
Airport Metro Express Line (AMEL), Project on BOOT basis for a concession period
of 30 years. The proposed 22.7 km of high speed metro rail line shall connect
New Delhi Railway Station and New Delhi International Airport through Cannaught
Place. The Airport Line is envisaged to be developed in line with
state-of-the-art technology and shall be comparable to the world’s best Airport
Link expresses viz. Heathrow, Hong Kong, etc. The project has been awarded by
Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Limited (DMRC) through an International Competitive
bidding process. The estimated project cost is about Rs 2,500 crore; the project
is scheduled to be operational in July 2010. Reliance Energy Limited is already
implementing the Mumbai Metro Line 1 Project (Versova – Andheri – Ghatkopar) in
Mumbai in association with Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA);
In the Metro Sector, Mumbai Metro Line 1 and Airport Metro Express Line, Delhi
are the only Projects to be undertaken on a PPP framework; Reliance Energy and
its affiliates are engaged in several mega projects under implementation and
under consideration, in power generation, transmission, and distribution, as
well as infrastructure development in areas such as highways, bridges, metro
rail, real estate, etc. A large number of new mega infrastructure projects are
also soon being put to bid, to provide further impetus to the country’s rapidly
accelerating economic growth.
Reliance Energy Limited:
Reliance Energy, a part of Reliance - Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group, is India's
leading private sector utility Company. Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group
currently has net worth in excess of Rs.40,000 crore, cash flow of Rs.9,000
crore, net profit of Rs.5,000 crore and zero net debt. Reliance Energy is ranked
amongst India’s top 20 listed private companies in terms of all major financial
parameters, including assets, sales, net worth, profits and market
capitalisation.
14 river projects to harness irrigation, power potential
The Government on Thursday announced 14 “national projects” with 90 per cent
Central assistance to harness the irrigation and hydro-power potential of
rivers across different states. “The Union Cabinet gave an in-principle approval
for the implementation of the national projects with
Central assistance of 90 per cent of the cost as grant,” Information and
Broadcasting Minister P R Dasmunsi said after the Cabinet meeting. He also added
that the Finance Ministry, in consultation with the Water Resources Ministry and
Planning Commission, would bring out a final funding mechanism for the projects.
Describing the decision as a “landmark development”, Union Water Resources
Minister Saifuddin Soz, who had moved the proposal, said the development would
help the farm sector in the long-term. “The decision will help unlock the
irrigation potential of the identified rivers and contribute to the agriculture
sector growth,” said Soz. Soz said that six of the projects were situated in the
Teesta, Chenab and Ravi river basins in West Bengal, Punjab, Jammu-Kashmir and
Himachal Pradesh, which involved international treaties having international
ramification and were projects of strategic significance.
He said the Kishau, Lakhvar Vyasi and Renuka projects in the Yamuna river basin
in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, Noa-Dehang Dam, Kulsa Dam and Upper Siang
projects in the Brahmaputra river basin had been included along with the
Gosikhurd in Maharashtra and Ken Betwa in Madhya Pradesh.
Soz said the projects had been chosen on the basis of objective criteria, which
included projects where usage of water was also governed by an international
treaty, projects involving inter-state rivers being dragged on due to
non-resolution of disputes with regard to costs, and intra-state projects with
additional potential of more than two lakh hectare and with no dispute regarding
sharing of water. However, the list of national projects did not include any
project from the four southern states. “There are issues between the states over
river water sharing not only in the south but also between Orissa and
Chhattisgarh. We cannot take away states’ right. Water is a state subject so
that will remain so,” said Soz.
Source: The Indian Express ,7 February 2008
India Power Congratulates Mr. K. Ravi Kumar, for assuming the office of
CMD, BHEL Navratna PSU
Mr. K. Ravi Kumar, Director (Power) on the Board of India’s Largest
Engineering Enterprise, Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) will also hold
the additional charge of Chairman and Managing Director of the Navratna PSU.
After completing his M. Tech from IIT Madras and Post Graduation in Business
Administration, Ravi Kumar joined BHEL in 1975 in the Energy Systems and New
Products (R&D) Division, after a brief stint in the private sector, and rose to
the position of Director (Power) in May, 2005. He has made significant
contributions in various key functions like Engineering of Control Equipment
Products in the Electronics Division, Bangalore, Construction and Project
Management of Thermal, Hydro, Nuclear and Industrial sets in Power Sector
Southern Region, Chennai and Head of Marketing of BHEL’s Power Sector business
segment. Significantly, Mr. Ravi Kumar was instrumental in achieving many firsts
for BHEL namely the first 1,000 MW coal based turnkey project of NTPC at
Simhadri in Andhra Pradesh completed in a record 39 months.
(Source: Indian Express 7 March 2008)
Saluting the unsung
Achievement Three Delhi NGOs and 11 others from across the country bag India
NGO Awards 2007 This is an initiative “to show that there are many civil
society organisations run as professionally as bodies in any other sector.”
Named India NGO Awards, the three-year-old initiative, born out of a partnership
between The Resource Alliance, a U.K.-based charity organisation, and The Nand &
Jeet Khema Foundation, has also been an attempt “to offer examples to other NGOs
to emulate.”
Meeting these parameters this year are as many as 13 voluntary organisations out
of 131 applicants from across the country. Each has been presented India
NGO Awards 2007. While nine of them have been selected as regional awardees,
divided into four parts region wise under the heads – small, medium and large,
the awards have also got a national section and The NGO of the Year prize. While
four NGOs have been selected as national awardees, one of them, Goonj, a
Delhi-based voluntary organisation, has also been chosen The NGO of the Year.
Says Rati Misra from The Resource Alliance, “We did a
multi-layered scanning to shortlist the NGOs. The basic parameters were their
financial sustainability, good standards, their programmes on ground, how have
they involved the local communities, etc. We made field visits to those who were
short-listed.” Such a thorough process of screening also was an attempt to quash
the oft-heard allegations that most NGOs lack credibility, and are often not run
professionally, adds Amrita Kapoor of Khemka Foundation.
The winners
Besides Goonj (in small category) and CRY (in large category), the two other
national awardees are the Chennai-based The Banyan and Child Line 1098 as joint
winners in the medium category. The rest of the regional winners are Dream A
Dream (Karnataka), Pragati (Orissa), Society for Promoting Rationality
(Gujarat), Deepalaya (Delhi), Raigarh Ambikapur Health Association (Chhattisgarh),
SOS Children’s Villages of India (Delhi), Aide Et Action (Tamil Nadu), Bharat
Integrated Social Welfare Agency (Orissa) and Centre for Environment Education
(Gujarat). While each of the awardees gets Rs.4 lakhs as financial aid, Goonj
has bagged an extra cheque of Rs.2 lakhs for having chosen the NGO of the Year.
“Besides the tangible benefits, what these awardees would get is a lot of
attention. We have brought out a casebook with their profiles, it will attract
philanthropy. Our aim is also to attract corporate funding,” says
Misra.
Source: THE HINDU, 27 March, 2008
Competitive Edge …beyond best practices in power generation
NTPC Event on Indian Power Sector
Union Minister of Power, Shri Sushilkumar Shinde inaugurated the O&M Event
anchored by NTPC- Indian Power Stations beyond best practices in power
generation in New Delhi today. He also released a book & CD on conference
proceedings on the occasion. The three day event is being attended by over 500
delegates from leading power sector companies, equipment manufacturers and
related areas from India and abroad. The prominent topics for discussion during
the event shall be Environmental Concerns and Mitigation Strategies, Energy
Efficiency initiatives & Enhancement, Renovation and Modernization options, ash
utilization initiatives etc. The inaugural session was addressed by Shri Anil
Razdan, Secretary (Power), Shri Rakesh Nath, Chairperson, CEA, Shri T.
Sankaralingam, CMD, NTPC and Shri Chandon Roy, Director (Operations) NTPC.
REL, GMR in race to buy Tuas Power
ADA Group's Reliance Energy and GMR Infrastructure are the two Indian firms
that have been shortlisted in the bidding process to acquire Singapore's Tuas
Power, one of the three power firms put on block. India's largest private sector
power generator Tata Power is, however, reported to be left out in the race.
REL and GMR would compete with four international firms including China Light
and Power, and HongKong Electric for acquiring Tuas Power that is estimated to
be valued at around $2 billion. "GMR and REL are two Indian companies which have
qualified in the indicative bidding stage of the two-step
process. The second stage of submitting binding bids is scheduled to be held in
March," sources said. Tata Power, REL and GMR, along with several
international players had submitted indicative bids for acquiring the three
Singapore firms on December 12. When contacted officials of Reliance Energy and
GMR denied to comment. Shares of GMR Infrastructure today closed down at Rs
248.85, while that of Reliance Energy were up at Rs 2,584.75 each.
Sharjah to promote sustainable use of water and energy
Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority has launched a year-long power and water
conservation campaign. "Through the campaign, we intend to change the
attitude of residents towards water consumption and educate people not to take
this vital natural resource for granted," said Al Waleed Bin Khadem,
Director-General of Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority (Sewa).
The aim of the campaign is to promote the sustainable use of water and energy by
targeting all sectors of the community. The campaign will be carried out in
coordination with Sharjah Municipality, the Education Zone and Qanat Al Qasba.
Bin Khadem said the campaign's message will reach the public through
advertisements in daily newspapers, billboards, utility bills and text messages.
The
conservation campaign is the third of its kind, and is an annual event that aims
to spread awareness of the importance of water and its proper use. Brochures and
publications will also be distributed by Zulal water distributors to all
residential, commercial and industrial buildings. Posters will soon be placed in
all public areas in Sharjah including shopping centres, government buildings,
hospitals, parks and supermarkets.
Siemens wins largest ever order for medium-voltage technology
Follow-up order for expansion of the power distribution network in Hong Kong
Erlangen, 2008-Mar-10 After successful completion of its first supply system
expansion project in Hong Kong, Siemens Energy has now received a follow-up
order worth about EUR 300
million from China Light and Power (CLP). Over the next five years, Siemens will
further modernize and expand the power distribution network of
China’s third largest metropolitan region. The latest order comprises the
delivery, installation and commissioning of about 2000 turnkey distribution
substations with medium-voltage switchgear.
“This huge follow-up order highlights the great trust that Siemens enjoys among
its customers,” stated Ralf Christian, CEO of the Power Distribution Division in
the Siemens Energy Sector. It’s the largest order that Siemens has ever been
awarded in the medium-voltage technology area. As a result, Hong Kong will have
a highly reliable medium-voltage power supply, Christian added. Hong Kong is one
of the most densely populated regions on earth.
In 2001 China Light and Power commissioned Siemens to modernize and expand Hong
Kong’s power distribution network for the first time. In the course of this
contract, which had a total duration of seven years, more than 2500 turnkey
medium- voltage distribution substations were constructed. The order, worth over
EUR 250 million, also included the delivery of the transformers and the
telecontrol system. The Siemens Energy Sector is the world’s leading supplier of
a complete spectrum of products, services and solutions for the generation,
transmission and distribution of power and for the extraction, conversion and
transport of oil and gas. In fiscal 2007 (ended September 30, based on IFRS),
the Energy Sector had revenues of approximately EUR20 billion and received new
orders totaling around EUR28 billion and posted a profit of EUR1.8 billion. The
Energy Sector had a work force of 73,500 at the beginning of fiscal 2008.
Further information is available at:
www.siemens.com/energy. All figures represent the sum of the
non-consolidated figures for the Power Generation and Power Transmission and
Distribution Groups and for the Oil, Gas and Marine Solutions Division of the
Industrial Solutions and Services Group.
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