The Hindu Business Line : Tatas to expand power systems division

TATA Power Company has planned a five-fold expansion of its power systems division over the next three years. The company hopes to increase the division's turnover to Rs 500 crore by 2006-07.

Tata Power had acquired the power systems division, which undertakes contracts to construct transmission networks, from Tata International Ltd three years ago. TPC now hopes to undertake international contracts through the division.

``We plan to expand our EPC business to smaller Asian nations, especially SAARC countries," Mr Prabhakar Kukde, Director, Tata Power, told Business Line.

The company will add more than 200 people to its current strength of 40 in the next couple of years to meet its growing needs.

``Within the next three years, we plan to increase the turnover of our division to more than Rs 500 crore. And we will require more manpower to handle new orders. So we would be taking our employee strength to around 250," Mr Kukde said.

The division reported a turnover of Rs 106.3 crore in 2003-04, three times higher than its turnover of Rs 25.9 crore in the previous year.

The power systems division has orders worth Rs 428 crore on hand, including a $38 million order from Power Grid Company of Bangladesh, said to be the largest transmission line contract awarded in that country.

The company's expansion plans for the power systems division are part of Tata Power's recently announced ambitious Rs 6,200 crore investment plan spread over the next five years.

Apart from the projects in hand, the company is evaluating new power generation projects and transmission projects endorsing private sector participation in Indian and abroad.