Power ministry to set up manufacturing hubs

The power ministry is set to establish three manufacturing hubs all over the country to produce critical energy and transmission equipment, which is currently fully imported from other countries including China, under the Atmanirbhar Bharat plan announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

According to authoritative government officials, the Indian power sector in 2018-2019 imported ₹71,000 crore of equipment, of which ₹21,235 crore came from China, according to the Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence (DGCI). While the government has managed to push down imports from China, the numbers are still humongous considering that a several of these equipment were being manufactured in India.

Yearly Chinese imports in the power sector have been worth ₹17,289 crore (2009-2010); ₹22,114 crore (2010-2011); ₹ 34,000 crore (2011-2012); ₹29,062 crore (2012-2013); ₹22,679 crore (2013-2014); ₹19,658 crore (20142015); ₹19,301 crore (2015-2016); ₹ 19,757 crore (2016-2017), and ₹ 19,682 crore (2017-2018).

In order to be self-reliant and cut down imports, particularly from China, the ministry has prepared two lists. The first or the mandatory list has 239 items in which India has zero capacity to manufacture and, hence, must rely on imports till such time the manufacturing hubs come up.

The second or the embargo list contains 95 items which are being imported by the power sector despite being manufactured in India.