— B. Lal,
Director-General, ITMA
Indian Transformer Manufacturers Association (ITMA), a national
association, was formed in 1979 with the objective of promoting
the interest of manufacturers of transformers. ITMA caters not only
to power and distribution transformers but also specialized
transformers. In an exclusive interaction
B. Lal discusses how
ITMA has been taking up critical issues affecting the Indian
transformer industry with the authorities concerned. Lal explains
that ensuring availability of CRGO and domestic testing facilities are
high-priority items in ITMA's agenda.
At the outset, tell us about how ITMA membership has grown
over the recent years?
There are currently about 300 members in the ITMA fraternity
comprising of large, medium and SSI players in the transformer
industry in the country. With the immense recognition of
ITMA's effort to highlight the problems of the transformer
industry with Bureau of Energy Efficiency, Central Electricity
Authority, Ministry of Power, Ministry of Steel, Rural
Electrification Corporation, Power Finance Corporation,
Central Power Research Institute, Electrical Research &
Development Association, distribution companies, power
utilities, etc, there has been steady increase in the membership
of ITMA.
Although the cross-section of ITMA membership has
companies like BHEL, Crompton, ABB, Bharat Bijlee,
Emco, Alstom, Prolec GE India, Vijai Electricals, Prime
Electric Ltd, Technical Associates, PME Power
Solutions, Kotsons, PS Electricals, Transformers
& Rectifiers, Accurate Transformers, Nucon
Power Controls, Skipper Electricals India
Ltd, High-Volt Electricals, Eastern
Transformers, Sai Electricals, Indian
Transformers & Electricals, Transformers
& Electricals Kerala Ltd, Kerala Electrical &
Allied Engg Co Ltd, Rajasthan Transformers
& Switchgears, Southern Power Equipment
Company, Standard Transformers and Vishal
Transformers & & Switchgears Pvt Ltd etc, to name a few.
I would like to mention that ITMA has illustrious companies
in its fold. Prime Electric Ltd has come up with a world-class
manufacturing unit with excellent testing facilities at Nellorin
Andhra Pradesh for EHV and UVHV power transformers. It is a
treat to visit this unit! Besides, it is heartening to note that Mr.
Anil Aggarwal, CMD, PME Power Solutions India Ltd, has been
conferred with ‘Niryat Shree’ Gold Trophy Award by the
Hon’ble President of India for his achievement for excellent
export performance during 2009-10 by Federation of Indian
Export Organisations (FIEO), set up by Ministry of Commerce,
Government of India.
We understand that India has several distribution
transformer manufacturers in the unorganized sector. What
has been ITMA"s attempt to bring them into
the formal fold of the association?
Mostly distribution transformers are being
manufactured in unorganized sector. There
could be more than 800 to 900 manufacturers in
India but hardly 10 per cent could produce
transformer of good quality in organized sector.
As per the BEE's Gazette Notification dated
January 5, 2010 and CEA's Notification dated
August 20, 2010, it has been mandated that only
at least 3-star rated energy efficient distribution
transformers can be manufactured and
purchased in India. Such a stipulation when
implemented in full would result in boosting the percentage to about 15 per cent in organized sector.
BEE and CEA being statutory bodies under Union power
ministry has evolved standard and labeling programme for
distribution transformers and these authorities are enforcing
the programme as only energy efficient transformers are
produced so that energy is conserved in bid to bridge the gap
between supply and demand of power in the country.
Barring few manufacturers (not more than 50 or so), the rest
falls under SSI category and are doing well. Power is one of the
prime movers of economic development where the transformer
is a major and indispensable machine/equipment for
generation, transmission and distribution of electricity in the
country.
The Steel Quality Control order requiring use of only BIScertified
electrical steel has been extended up to March 31,
2013. Can you elaborate?
In order to apprise you of the background of the subject matter,
original Gazette Notification No. S.O.2173 (E) dated 9th
September 2008 was issued by Ministry of Steel to be effective
from 12th February 2009, for mandating certification of
electrical steel (CRGO) as per IS3024 for import of material
used in the manufacture of distribution and power
transformers. This order was extended up to 12th February
2010 vide S.O. 438 (E) but later on vide order S.O. 308 (E) dated
9th February 2010, the item of CRGO was omitted.
Ministry of Steel issued another Quality Control Order on
24th June 2011, which was Gazette Notified on 12th March
2012. This mandates registration of foreign mills with BIS for
certification for supply of prime CRGO to the indian transformer
industry which was to come into force with effect from 12th
September 2012, but has subsequently been extended up to
31st March 2013 vide notification dated 11th September 2012
due to all round pressure of various stakeholders.
What are the practical difficulties in implementation of the
order?
The major practical difficulty in implementation of the Quality
Control Order is the mandatory registration of the foreign mills
and suppliers of CRGO with BIS. This is a cumbersome process
as the registration/certification entails several steps starting
from application for CRGO on BIS-prescribed form right down
to the foreign supplier opening an office in India.
ITMA is vigorously pursuing with BIS and the other
authorities for expediting the certification of the mills who have
already submitted their application for registration with BIS.
So far, how many foreign steel mills have got their electrical
steel BIS-certified?
So far only four foreign mills have got their electrical steel
certified as per IS3024 with BIS. These are JEF Steel, Japan;
Thyssen Krupp-Indian unit at Nasik; and two units of Nippon
Steel, both in Japan.
Out of the above four mills , both the units of Nippon Steel are
not fully certified for all the grades of electrical steel due to
variance in testing facilities available at their works as
provided in the IS3024 for domain refined grades material.
What role is ITMA playing to ensure that the order is
implemented?
ITMA has proactively initiated the process by calling meetings
of foreign mills and CRGO suppliers of CRGO with BIS, MOS,
MOP, CEA and other departments concerned, since the date of
issue of the quality control order on 24th June 2011. The
suppliers have been continuously pursued to submit their
applications for registration/certification with BIS as per
IS3024 which is mandatory for supply of CRGO.
Do you think that the mandatory BEE star-labeling of
distribution transformers has improved the quality of
transformers in the country?
Bureau of Energy Efficiency has issued standard & labeling (S&L)
programme vide Gazette Notification dated 12th January 2009,
6th July 2009 & 5th January 2010, wherein it has become
mandatory for buyers & manufacturers to procure/manufacture
only star-rated distribution transformers. Besides, Central
Electricity Authority (CEA) vide its Gazette Notification dated
20th August 2010 has also made it mandatory to use distribution
transformers with maximum losses not exceeding the losses of
at least 3-star rated transformers as specified by BEE. The
matter of manufacture and procurement of non star rated
distribution transformers has become a serious issue both with
utilities and transformer manufacturers, due to total nonadherence
of implementation of S&L of BEE's notification for 16KVA to 200KVA distribution transformers.
ITMA in association with BEE has conducted the regional
workshops at Hyderabad, Lucknow, New Delhi and Mumbai last
year, in order to spread the awareness amongst the
transformer manufacturers, utilities and EPC contractors
about the BEE's S&L programme of using only star rated
distribution transformers.
We hear of some Chinese power transformer manufacturers
trying to set up shop in India. What is your view of the
impending competition?
Yes, it is in our knowledge that some Chinese power
transformer manufacturers are setting up their units in
India which will definitely give impetus to the Indian
manufacturers to enhance their production capacity with latest
technologies, so as to give competition to the Chinese and
other manufacturers in the world due to open economy at
global level.
What are the major issues in the transformer industry on which
ITMA would be focusing in the coming years?
The major issues on which ITMA would focus in coming years
for the transformer industry would be:
Electrical Silicon Steel (CRGO): CRGO is not manufactured in
India and the local transformer industry is totally dependent on
the import of this main raw material from the 15 foreign mills.
Indian steel producers such as SAIL, JSW, Tata, Mittal group
etc should be forced to set up CRGO plant as the demand is
about 3 lakh tonnes per year, with lot of scope for export
market. In the ongoing XII Plan period, the annual demand for
CRGO is likely to increase to 4-5 lakh tonnes.
Rationalization distribution transformer losses: ITMA has
already finalized the losses of various ratings and voltage class
of distribution transformers in association with BEE and CEA.
In this connection Gazette Notification of rationalized losses
for distribution transformers of rating 6.3 KVA to 2500 KVA
(including revision of losses for 16 to 200 KVA, 11/0.4KV at 100
per cent loading) 3-phase at 11kV level together with losses of
distribution transformers ranging from 5 KVA to 25 KVA at 11kV
single phase, as recommended by a BEE's Technical Committee
on 6th September 2010 is pending with BEE/MOP for the last
two years. ITMA is vigorously pursuing this matter with the
authorities concerned but our efforts are meeting hard rock
and ITMA cannot offer further comments for obvious reasons.
Rationalization of technical specification: The transformer
industry caters to the requirements of almost all the power
utilities in India. It had come to our notice that each utility had
its own set of technical specification and is quite different than
that of others. As a result transformer manufacturers were
required to handle various designs for various customers even
though the KVA/MVA rating and voltage ratio were same,
thereby creating lot of scope for confusion both for suppliers
and users. The matter was discussed at length in various
forums and seminars with a view to standardize the
specifications at the national level.
Four meetings of the Task Force has taken place and lot of
work in respect of Guaranteed Technical Particulars [GTP],
losses, Outline General Arrangement [OGA] drawing,
painting work, location of fittings and accessories, control
schemes, fire fighting & oil sump arrangements has been
carried out. Complete study shall be accomplished in next 2 to 3
meetings when the report shall be submitted to CEA for
examination of its Technical Committee so as to finalize the
study to be adopted at the national level.
Testing of Transformers: The existing domestic short-circuit
test facilities are inadequate and large power transformers,
especially with capacity 100MVA and above, are being sent to
overseas testing labs such as KEMA Netherlands and CESI,
Italy. This is a very costly proposition and even causes delay in
commissioning of projects.
It is however learnt that MOP is going to establish national
High Power Test Lab (P) Ltd in Bina, Madhya Pradesh as a joint
venture between NTPC, NHPC, Power Grid Corporation of India
and Damodar Valley Corporation. Such a lab shall prove a boon
to all countries of ASEAN, SAARC, Middle East and Africa.