Date:11/02/2006 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/02/11/stories/2006021102480200.htm

Back Siemens plans local tie-ups to bid for mega thermal projects

Our Bureau

Bangalore , Feb. 10

SIEMENS intends to tie up with local partners for bidding for the proposed mega thermal generation stations of 4,000 MW in the country.

Speaking to newspersons today, the Siemens India Managing Director, Mr Jurgen Schubert, said: "We will pitch for the projects when the Government decides to invite bids."

Currently, Siemens's proposed greenfield project near Vadodara, Gujarat is deigned for making turbines up to 150 MW. The larger turbines would be sourced from the parent company in Germany.

He said, "If necessary we will tie up with a domestic company for making the bids." However, he declined to name the domestic partner.

In the past, Siemens has participated in some of the international competitive bids for thermal projects floated by the public sector power companies and some of the independent power projects.

Referring to the Vadodara plant, Mr Schubert said that the company plans to invest Rs 30 crore for the factory. The greenfield project is part of its investment-led growth strategy, which includes enhancing its manufacturing capacities in the country.

The enhancing of capacities is intended at making India the company's global hub for turbines and spares.

Siemens has planned two acquisitions, for which it has already received approval from its board. One of them is takeover of the isolator division of Elpro International at Hyderabad.