NEW DELHI, July 10: Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) has joined hands with General Electric (GE) and Siemens to set up two separate joint ventures in India on a 50:50 basis.

The joint venture between BHEL and GE named BHEL-GE Gas Turbine Services Pvt Ltd with an authorised capital of Rs 7 crore would carry out after-sales repair and servicing of GE designed heavy duty gas turbines including conversion, modification and upgrading of gas turbines. The other joint venture of BHEL and Siemens named Power Plant Improvement Pvt Ltd with an authorised capital of Rs 6 crore would carry out plant performance improvement (PPI) - i.e capacity restoration and upgradation and life extension of total power station leading to improved availability, performance and reduction in pollutant emission -- of old fossil fuel power plants.

Both these joint venture companies are essentially engineering and marketing companies and would source their requirements of hardware and services from the joint venture partners. The joint venture companies with the support of BHEL and respective joint venture partners will have the necessary competitive edge to face global competition in these newly emerging business areas.

Besides catering to the Indian market, the joint ventures would also have access to many export markets. BHEL has an ongoing technical collaboration with GE for the manufacture of heavy duty gas turbines and is one of the only three licensees of GE in the world. Under this licence, BHEL has already manufactured and supplied more than 80 gas turbines in India and abroad. The joint venture would have access to technology and research and development support of GE and provide customers with appropriate solutions in servicing and modification of gas turbines.

BHEL also has an ongoing technical collaboration with Siemens and has already manufactured and supplied over 400 steam turbines and generators ranging up to 500 mw ratings. Siemens with its strong research and development base would ideally compliment BHEL's own strengths in this field.

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