NHPTL charging high for short circuit testing: IEEMA

New Delhi, Oct 12 (KNN) In a letter to the Secretary of Ministry of Power, Indian Electrical & Electronics Manufacturers' Association (IEEMA)  has requested the secretary to look into the matter of high prices charged by National High Power Test Laboratory (NHPTL) for short circuit testing.

IEEMA, Director General, Sunil Mishra in a letter said that NHPTL was established as a joint venture between  NTPC, POWERGRID, NHPC, DVC &CPRI to provide short circuit testing for full range of electrical equipments  manufactured by Indian industry in line with Indian and international standards.

Mishra further said that  the prices charged by NHPTL for short circuit tests are very exponentially high as compared to the charges quoted by foreign labotaroeis like KERI/KEMA. NHPTL charges 37%to 113% higher than KEMA Netherlands (taxes,transportation charges not considered).

Citing instances, Mishra added that for 315MVA,765KV, generator transformer KEMA charges 244 lacs whereas for the same product  NHPTL charges 400 lacs which is 81% higher due to which the Indian manufactures going to foreign labs for testing  short circuits due to high charges will be counter-productive for NHPTL to establish global acceptance.

According to Mishra Indian testing labs has not been given global recognition yet. For exporting purposes, Indian manufactures have to get their transformers tested from foreign laboratories and all the efforts made by IEEMA to find global recognition and approval for Indian labs are going to be proven futile if this high pricing is continued.

The Director General has  suggested that in order to support the global presence of Indian transformer manufactures , the cost of short circuit test charges must be reduced and  rationalized. (KNN/AG)