Alstom plans expansion in India, eyes nuclear business

Our Corporate Bureau
26 October 2006

"India is a key market for Alstom. We are expanding our plants at Durgapur, Shahabad and Vadodara to meet rising demand," Phillipe Joubert, president of Alstom's power division worldwide, said. He, however, said the company has no plans to set up a green field facility and would only be expanding its existing facilities.

Alstom has a tie-up with Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd for 800 MW supercritical boilers and is manufacturing some components for these units at its Durgapur and Shahabad plants. BHEL's Trichy plant would be making these boilers under a technology transfer agreement.

Joubert said there is no plan as yet to team up with NTPC, which is also entering equipment manufacture.

Alstom Projects India Ltd, a listed subsidiary of the French equipment giant in the country, is looking at opportunities in the nuclear power sector ahead of an India-US civilian nuclear cooperation agreement. Joubert said the company had discussions with the Nuclear Power Corporation of India for equipment supply.

Alstom Projects India, meanwhile, reported a 172-per cent rise in net profit for the quarter ended September 30, 2006. The company has posted a net profit of Rs 31.3 crore for the July-September quarter as compared with Rs 11.5 crore for the same quarter the previous year. Total income rose 20 per cent to Rs 277.9 crore from Rs 231.3 crore while net sales rose to Rs 267.7 crore against Rs 226.2 crore the corresponding previous quarter.

Alstom, a global leader in power generation and rail infrastructure sectors, is the majority shareholder in Alstom Projects India.