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Indian power firm eyeing Arab countries
Friday, 08 November 2002, 20:30 IST
BHUBANESWAR: A minister in the eastern Indian state of Orissa wants the region's main power supplier to expand its operations to the Arab nations to cut losses.
State run Grid Corporation of Orissa Limited (Gridco) has been clocking losses of about 
220 million every month since power distribution work was transferred to private companies under a reform program launched about five years ago.
"I have advised the people at the helm at Gridco to expand operations to other areas within and outside the country to make up for the losses," state Energy Minister Surya Narayan Patra said.
"Gridco could take up laying of high voltage transmission lines and related jobs in other states. It could engage in power trading. I have also suggested taking up infrastructure development work in Arab countries," Patra said.
Because of the power sector reforms, about 5,500 Gridco employees have little work. Gridco gets about 900 million to 1 billion every month from distribution companies against an average bill of 1.25 billion.
But top state officials seem skeptical of the minister's loss cutting ideas.
"If the state government decides Gridco should bid for any contract outside India, it needs lots of clearances from the central government. Gridco is a loss making organization and needs to improve its image first," said a senior official in the energy department, requesting anonymity.
Source: IANS
220 million every month since power distribution work was transferred to private companies under a reform program launched about five years ago.
"I have advised the people at the helm at Gridco to expand operations to other areas within and outside the country to make up for the losses," state Energy Minister Surya Narayan Patra said.
"Gridco could take up laying of high voltage transmission lines and related jobs in other states. It could engage in power trading. I have also suggested taking up infrastructure development work in Arab countries," Patra said.
Because of the power sector reforms, about 5,500 Gridco employees have little work. Gridco gets about 900 million to 1 billion every month from distribution companies against an average bill of 1.25 billion.
But top state officials seem skeptical of the minister's loss cutting ideas.
"If the state government decides Gridco should bid for any contract outside India, it needs lots of clearances from the central government. Gridco is a loss making organization and needs to improve its image first," said a senior official in the energy department, requesting anonymity.
Source: IANS