Bharat Forge to enter alliance with Alstom group

Pune: Forgings major Bharat Forge (BFL) is proposing to enter into an alliance with a Europe-based company of the Alstom Group for the manufacture of critical components for thermal power plants.

The joint venture would be headquartered in New Delhi.

Mr Baba Kalyani, Chairman and Managing Director, BFL, said this was part of the company’s planned entry into the capital goods sector.

Refusing to disclose details about the forthcoming joint venture agreement which is due to be signed in New Delhi on November 10, he said the manufacturing plant would be located near a port to facilitate transportation since the components could weigh upwards of 1000 tonnes. “We have not finalised whether it will be on the West coast or the East coast as yet,” he said.

In an earlier statement on the subject, Mr Kalyani had indicated that the project could be in partnership with another company. He had identified either Gujarat or Visakhapatnam as possible locations for the greenfield plant which is expected to go on stream in three years and involve an investment of Rs 1,000-1,200 crore over a five-year period.