New Delhi: Scott Bayman, president and CEO, GE India, has announced that GE Energy would join National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) and Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) to determine a course of action for restarting and completing the Dabhol Power Project (DPC).

In a statement to the press, GE India said that as soon as arrangements are completed at the site, GE Energy would dispatch its engineers and technical advisors to examine GE-supplied turbines and related equipment. Based on these evaluations and the findings of NTPC and BHEL on the balance of the plant, a detailed work schedule for the restart of phase 1 and completion of phase 2 would be established.

"GE is pleased with the course of discussions with the various stakeholders in DPC and looks forward to a complete resolution of the outstanding issues," Bayman said, adding that the company had always held that a fully producing plant was in the best interests of the people. "We are keen to put Dabhol behind us, assist with bringing power to the people of Maharashtra and pursue our growth initiatives across a wide range of business sectors in the country," he said in a statement.

GE's decision to partner with NTPC and BHEL follows the recent visit of GE chairman and CEO, Jeffrey R. Immelt, to the country during which he met the prime minister and ministers for power, finance and commerce.

The 2,184mw-Dabhol plant, one of the country's largest foreign investment projects, was shut down in June 2001 after a dispute over electricity tariffs between the then US-based promoter Enron Corporation and the Maharashtra State Electricity Board.

GE and Bechtel Group Inc together own an 85 per cent stake in DPC.