BHEL signs pact with GE for increased rights over gas turbine models

General Electric Technology GmbH Switzerland and Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) have inked a technical assistance and licence agreement for gas turbines. Since 1986, BHEL has been producing and providing gas turbines of GE design to clients in India and internationally. As part of this extension agreement, BHEL will receive improved rights for current or upgraded turbines as well as new gas turbine models.

In India, BHEL is the market leader for gas turbines in collaboration with GE. It has so far provided 230 gas turbines designed by GE to utilities, process industries and oil refineries in India and other countries. Additionally, BHEL GE Gas Turbine Services (BGGTS), a joint venture between BHEL and GE, has been offering aftermarket assistance for engineering, repair, and maintenance for the past 25 years.

J P Srivastava, Director (Engineering, Research & Development) and Director (Finance - Additional Charge), BHEL, and Theodoros Stamatiadis, Executive Counsel (IP), GE Power, virtually signed the contract. The agreement was signed in the presence of Renuka Gera, Director (Industrial Systems & Products), BHEL, Nalin Shinghal, Chairman & Managing Director of BHEL, Deepesh Nanda, CEO of GE Gas Power South Asia, and President & CEO of GE Aero-derivative Business, Gas Power Asia. Participants included members of the US-India Business Council.

According to the agreement, BHEL will also be able to provide gas turbines with fuel blends like hydrogen, methanol, syngas, etc. and in hybrid configuration, helping to accelerate India's energy transition. Aero-derivative gas turbines will also aid in grid balancing the country's ambitious renewable energy build-up target. The Agreement would also support India's 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' and 'Make in India' programmes as BHEL will produce modern gas turbines and their replacement parts domestically at its site in Hyderabad.