Date:12/05/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/05/12/stories/2008051256990400.htm

New Delhi

Manmohan’s initiative

NEW DELHI: Meanwhile, taking a cue from the directions issued by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to give preference to domestic companies in placement of orders for power equipment, Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) and Bokharo Steel Plant have awarded two major power plant expansion projects to State-run BHEL.

Mr. Ramesh said the DVC Board had on Friday decided to award the Bokharo power project expansion to BHEL. The order would be for Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract for the proposed 500 MW power plant. Mr. Ramesh said that in another development, DVC had also decided that the EPC of 2X660 MW Stage II of Raghunathpur Power Plant would also be awarded to BHEL. The Stage I of 2X600 MW of this power plant is being executed by Reliance Energy Limited and Schenzen Electric Company of China. ``This reflects the new thinking within the Power Ministry that preference would be given to domestic companies for EPC contracts instead of opting for imported equipment.