India has an ambitious capacity expansion target of 78,000 MW during the 11th Plan. Bhel, the country’s largest engineering and manufacturing enterprise in the energy related infrastructure sector, is gearing up to meet the target. The company plans to enhance its manufacturing capacity to 15,000 MW per annum, with a total investment of around Rs 3,200 crore during the 11th Plan. Currently, Bhel is in the process of enhancing its manufacturing capacity from 6,000 MW to 10,000 MW, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2007.

According to Bhel chairman and managing director Ashok K Puri , the company is optimistic about this growth potential. “A GDP growth projection of 8-10 per cent per annum or even more requires higher growth in all sectors of the economy, including power capacity addition,” he said. “This is going to provide continued growth opportunities for capital equipment manufacturers like Bhel.”