Bhel plans 20,000MW capacity by 2012

Bharat Heavy Electricals (Bhel), the country's biggest power equipment maker, plans to scale up its manufacturing capacity to 20,000MW by 2012 at an investment of about Rs 6,500 crore as it seeks to gear up for the massive requirement of the electricity sector in the next few years.

"We will soon take up the proposal in our board to work on increasing capacity to 20,000MW after completing the first phase of expansion to 10,000MW by December this year," A K Puri, chairman and managing director, Bhel said.

"The second phase of expansion to raise capacity to 15,000 MW has begun at an investment of Rs 3,200 crore," he said, adding in case "we decide to go for further expansion the investment will be close to Rs 3,200 crore."

Puri said 10 ultra mega power projects are also being talked about, and so there would be a spate of fresh orders in the next 20-24 months.

The company also plans to raise its headcount by 20,000 in the next five years as part of its expansion programme.

"We shall be inducting 18,000-20,000 people in the next five years in almost all product lines at our various plants, said Puri.