BHEL looking for partner for propulsion systems and digitalisation business in rail sector

New Delhi, India (Urban Transport News): Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) seeks response from companies meeting the requirements of this EoI and are willing to be associated with BHEL through a Joint Venture (route on long term basis in formation of a Joint Venture (JV) to pursue business opportunities for Propulsion Systems and its services, digitalisation business in rail transportation in India and abroad.

The proposed Joint Venture Company (JVC) should be in a position to pursue the business of Propulsion Systems and its services, digitalisation business in rail transportation. The detailed terms and conditions and other definitive documents including the JV Agreement, the Memorandum and Articles of Association and the long-term Business Plan for such a JV shall be mutually agreed upon.

The proposed JVC will be a separate legal entity formed & registered in line with provisions of the Indian Companies Act, 2013 and subsequently issued amendments with an independent Board and a certain proportion of BHEL’s shareholding and board representation as agreed with the prospective JV partner.

The proposed JV partner shall be willing to transfer/ license the technology to the proposed JVC and the JVC be provided with exclusivity to market and manufacture in India.

BHEL's current portfolio of railways Propulsion Systems shall remain outside the ambit of the proposed JVC and as per requirement, BHEL’s capacities/ facilities may be considered for sharing with the JVC at appropriate commercial considerations. The prospective JV partner shall submit confirmation for participation in the EoI process.

For the selection of a Joint Venture partner for Propulsion Systems and its services, digitalisation business in rail transportation, BHEL has issued an Expression of Interest (EoI) on 25th March 2021. The last date to submit EoI is 15th April 2021.

BHEL is a leading supplier of locomotives and propulsion electrics to Indian Railways for the last 50 years. Around 50% of the rolling stock of Indian Railways is equipped with BHEL manufactured electrics. BHEL has also been manufacturing Motors, Power electronics and Controllers for various transportation applications at its various factories.

In the transportation sector, BHEL is into the manufacture of complete electric and diesel-electric locomotives and electrical assemblies/components including traction motors, traction transformers, power & auxiliary converters and controls, gear wheels etc. At BHEL’s Jhansi plant, complete Electric Locomotives up to 6000 HP rating for mainline application of Indian Railways, Diesel Electric Locomotives from 350 HP to 2600 HP rating are manufactured.

So far, more than 370 nos. of mainline electric locomotives to Indian Railways and more than 250 nos. of diesel-electric locomotives for shunting operations to different industries have been supplied. BHEL Jhansi plant with an installed capacity of 75 nos. locomotives per year, have state-of-the-art facilities for manufacturing and fabrication of bogies, loco shells, underframes and other mechanical components of locomotives.

BHEL has recently developed India’s first state-of-the-art WAG7/9000 HP Electric Locomotive with regenerative capability. Among electrical propulsion equipment, BHEL manufactures and supplies traction motors, traction transformers, power converters (IGBT) & controls, auxiliary converters (IGBT) and vehicle control units for electric locomotives, diesel-electric locomotives and EMUs.

The manufacturing range includes conventional DC drive, IGBT-based 3-phase drive equipment for various ratings for Locomotives, EMUs and MEMUs. BHEL has also been in the forefront of providing maintenance and spares/replacement support to Indian Railways for their locomotive fleet. BHEL has a full-fledged service department located at major centres in the country.

For more details, please read the complete official notification issued by BHEL.