Goel, Gadkari question anti-dumping move on solar cells
Updated: Jun 11, 2014 11:27:05am
New Delhi, Jun 11 (KNN) Two key ministers in the NDA Government - Nitin Gadkari and Piyush Goel are reported to have opposed the move of the Commerce Ministry to impose anti-dumping duty on solar photovoltaic cells, contending the duty would result in high cost of solar energy.
Reports suggest that the move of the Commerce Ministry to probe the alleged dumping of solar cells by countries such as US, China, Malaysia and Chinese Taipei could face roadblocks within the government as in a letter to Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Union Road Transport, Highways and Shipping Minister, Gadkari has asked her to scrap the proposal of imposition of anti-dumping duty on imported solar panels.
Gadkari wrote the letter to Sitharaman on June-5, in which he said that anti-dumping duty, if imposed, would double the solar power cost.
“The duty if imposed would escalate the cost of solar power by about 100 per cent,” Gadkari’s letter said, as quoted in media reports. He said indigenous manufacturers could be compensated with appropriate subsidy.
Earlier last month, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) had opposed the Commerce Ministry’s recommendation on imposing a restrictive duty on imported solar cells due to several projects already in the pipeline. MNRE had said that this is not the right time to impose the anti-dumping duty as there are a lot of projects in the pipeline.
In the wake of rising concerns of the domestic manufacturers about the dumping of cheap solar cells into India, the Directorate General of Anti-dumping and Allied Duties (DGAD), under the Commerce Ministry had made the recommendation.
Over the last few months, there has been tiff between the Indian solar panel makers and power project developers on the imposition of anti-dumping duties on imported panels.
Indian manufacturers have been saying that they are losing business as project developers are buying international panels at lower costs, while project developers argue that Indian panel makers don't have sufficient manufacturing capacity and that the quality of panels are not good.
The Commerce Ministry had suggested restrictive duty in the range of USD 0.11-0.81 per watt. The levy would be applicable on solar modules and cells assembled partially or fully, originating or exported from the countries mentioned. (KNN/SD)
Reports suggest that the move of the Commerce Ministry to probe the alleged dumping of solar cells by countries such as US, China, Malaysia and Chinese Taipei could face roadblocks within the government as in a letter to Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Union Road Transport, Highways and Shipping Minister, Gadkari has asked her to scrap the proposal of imposition of anti-dumping duty on imported solar panels.
Gadkari wrote the letter to Sitharaman on June-5, in which he said that anti-dumping duty, if imposed, would double the solar power cost.
“The duty if imposed would escalate the cost of solar power by about 100 per cent,” Gadkari’s letter said, as quoted in media reports. He said indigenous manufacturers could be compensated with appropriate subsidy.
Earlier last month, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) had opposed the Commerce Ministry’s recommendation on imposing a restrictive duty on imported solar cells due to several projects already in the pipeline. MNRE had said that this is not the right time to impose the anti-dumping duty as there are a lot of projects in the pipeline.
In the wake of rising concerns of the domestic manufacturers about the dumping of cheap solar cells into India, the Directorate General of Anti-dumping and Allied Duties (DGAD), under the Commerce Ministry had made the recommendation.
Over the last few months, there has been tiff between the Indian solar panel makers and power project developers on the imposition of anti-dumping duties on imported panels.
Indian manufacturers have been saying that they are losing business as project developers are buying international panels at lower costs, while project developers argue that Indian panel makers don't have sufficient manufacturing capacity and that the quality of panels are not good.
The Commerce Ministry had suggested restrictive duty in the range of USD 0.11-0.81 per watt. The levy would be applicable on solar modules and cells assembled partially or fully, originating or exported from the countries mentioned. (KNN/SD)
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