Uncertainty over govt's plan to mandate quality certification for power transformers from Feb
Updated: Oct 27, 2015 01:06:02pm
New Delhi, Oct 27 (KNN) Uncertainty looms over the government’s plan to introduce mandatory quality certification for power transformers from next February, with concerned labs and agency like Central Power Research Institute, Electrical Research and Development Association and Bureau of India Standard unable to expedite work for issuing necessary licences to manufacturers in time.
Worried over the prospects of the deadline being pushed back further, a move that would benefit only unscrupulous manufacturers, Indian Transformers Manufacturers Association has sought power ministry’s intervention to ensure that BIS licences are issued to all manufacturers in time.
On May 7, the Department of Heavy Industry (DHI) issued quality control order on distribution transformers of up to 2,500 KVA, stipulating implementation from February 11, 2016.
Significantly, while addressing ITMA conference on June 5, Union Power Minister Piyush Goyal had asked these agencies to streamline their procedures so that the process of issuing licences to transformers could be completed in time for complying with the stipulated deadline of mandatory quality certification manufacturers.
The labs, CPRI and ERDA, were asked to complete tests in seven days and BIS to issue licences in five days from the date of receipt of test reports from labs.
Now it turns out that the labs and BIS have failed to get their acts together despite a clear direction from power minister Piyush Goyal to complete their respective works in a time-bound manner.
“The licences are not being issued to the applicants within five days after receipt of the test reports from the test house, which has been reported mostly by all the members,” ITMA has written to the concerned official in the power ministry, BN Shama, Addl Secretary, citing case of Toshiba Transmission & Distribution Systems India Pvt. Ltd which submitted its application to BIS for registration on May 26 but is still waiting for licence.
The industry body has averred that the reason for non-issue of the licence is delay in seeking/replying the clarifications/interpretations and non-uniform testing procedures to be followed by CPRI and ERDA.
Expressing concern over the slow pace of issuance of licences, ITMA has said, “Even if assuming that hundred or so transformer manufacturers are issued licences, it may not be sufficient to fulfil the requirements of power sector and thus would warrant further extension of the Quality Control Order which may create complications as some of the manufacturers who have already been issued licences in the current year, would be due for renewal.”
“Such a situation is not conducive both for the industry and the power sector and would give more time to the unscrupulous elements to carry on with dubious means to import spurious material thereby defeating the very purpose of issue of Quality Control Order. It would thus call for high level intervention to stream line the process for grant/ issue of licences to the applicants,” the letter added.
Significantly, quality of transformers supplied to utilities has fallen drastically in recent years due to the widespread use of inferior-quality steel by unscrupulous manufactures chasing super profits. Such transformers barely last for 3-5 years compared to the normal life of over 25 years in other countries. Once BIS quality certification mandatory for transformers, manufacturers will have to comply with minimum quality standards that would in turn restrict the scope for use of sub-standard material.
As per the subject Quality Control Order BIS certification/licence of the Transformer manufacturers, for storage/supply of DTs as per IS: 1180 Part 1/2014 is mandatory with effect from February 1, 2016.
Accordingly BIS started the process of registration/certification of the transformer manufactures for grant of licence for supply of transformers. ITMA has been in constant interaction with BIS and got issued revised guidelines to be followed by BIS Regional/Branch offices and transformer manufacturers.
The above matter was also taken up along with other issues of transformer industry in ITMA’s International Conference on transformers at Mumbai on 5th June 2015, where Hon’ble Union Power Minister, specifically directed the BIS and the test houses (CPRI &ERDA) to ensure the testing of samples within a week’s time and issue of licence by BIS within five days from date of receipt of test report.
The licences are not being issued to the applicants within 5 days after receipt of the test reports from the test house, which has been reported mostly by all the members. Recent case is of M/s Toshiba Transmission & Distribution Systems India Pvt. Ltd, AP who submitted its application to BIS for registration on 26th May 2015 and till date BIS licence has not been issued. The reason for non-issue of the licence is due to delay in seeking/replying the clarifications/interpretations and non-uniform testing procedures to be followed by CPRI and ERDA.
The above progress of issue/grant of licence is not encouraging. Even if assuming that hundred or so transformer manufacturers are issued licences, may not be sufficient to fulfil the requirements of power sector and thus would warrant further extension of the Quality Control Order which may create complications as some of the manufacturers who have already been issued licences in the current year, would be due for renewal. Such a situation is not conducive both for the industry and the power sector and would give more time to the unscrupulous elements to carry on with dubious means to import spurious material thereby defeating the very purpose of issue of Quality Control Order. It would thus call for high level intervention to stream line the process for grant/ issue of licences to the applicants. (KNN/ NM)
Worried over the prospects of the deadline being pushed back further, a move that would benefit only unscrupulous manufacturers, Indian Transformers Manufacturers Association has sought power ministry’s intervention to ensure that BIS licences are issued to all manufacturers in time.
On May 7, the Department of Heavy Industry (DHI) issued quality control order on distribution transformers of up to 2,500 KVA, stipulating implementation from February 11, 2016.
Significantly, while addressing ITMA conference on June 5, Union Power Minister Piyush Goyal had asked these agencies to streamline their procedures so that the process of issuing licences to transformers could be completed in time for complying with the stipulated deadline of mandatory quality certification manufacturers.
The labs, CPRI and ERDA, were asked to complete tests in seven days and BIS to issue licences in five days from the date of receipt of test reports from labs.
Now it turns out that the labs and BIS have failed to get their acts together despite a clear direction from power minister Piyush Goyal to complete their respective works in a time-bound manner.
“The licences are not being issued to the applicants within five days after receipt of the test reports from the test house, which has been reported mostly by all the members,” ITMA has written to the concerned official in the power ministry, BN Shama, Addl Secretary, citing case of Toshiba Transmission & Distribution Systems India Pvt. Ltd which submitted its application to BIS for registration on May 26 but is still waiting for licence.
The industry body has averred that the reason for non-issue of the licence is delay in seeking/replying the clarifications/interpretations and non-uniform testing procedures to be followed by CPRI and ERDA.
Expressing concern over the slow pace of issuance of licences, ITMA has said, “Even if assuming that hundred or so transformer manufacturers are issued licences, it may not be sufficient to fulfil the requirements of power sector and thus would warrant further extension of the Quality Control Order which may create complications as some of the manufacturers who have already been issued licences in the current year, would be due for renewal.”
“Such a situation is not conducive both for the industry and the power sector and would give more time to the unscrupulous elements to carry on with dubious means to import spurious material thereby defeating the very purpose of issue of Quality Control Order. It would thus call for high level intervention to stream line the process for grant/ issue of licences to the applicants,” the letter added.
Significantly, quality of transformers supplied to utilities has fallen drastically in recent years due to the widespread use of inferior-quality steel by unscrupulous manufactures chasing super profits. Such transformers barely last for 3-5 years compared to the normal life of over 25 years in other countries. Once BIS quality certification mandatory for transformers, manufacturers will have to comply with minimum quality standards that would in turn restrict the scope for use of sub-standard material.
As per the subject Quality Control Order BIS certification/licence of the Transformer manufacturers, for storage/supply of DTs as per IS: 1180 Part 1/2014 is mandatory with effect from February 1, 2016.
Accordingly BIS started the process of registration/certification of the transformer manufactures for grant of licence for supply of transformers. ITMA has been in constant interaction with BIS and got issued revised guidelines to be followed by BIS Regional/Branch offices and transformer manufacturers.
The above matter was also taken up along with other issues of transformer industry in ITMA’s International Conference on transformers at Mumbai on 5th June 2015, where Hon’ble Union Power Minister, specifically directed the BIS and the test houses (CPRI &ERDA) to ensure the testing of samples within a week’s time and issue of licence by BIS within five days from date of receipt of test report.
The licences are not being issued to the applicants within 5 days after receipt of the test reports from the test house, which has been reported mostly by all the members. Recent case is of M/s Toshiba Transmission & Distribution Systems India Pvt. Ltd, AP who submitted its application to BIS for registration on 26th May 2015 and till date BIS licence has not been issued. The reason for non-issue of the licence is due to delay in seeking/replying the clarifications/interpretations and non-uniform testing procedures to be followed by CPRI and ERDA.
The above progress of issue/grant of licence is not encouraging. Even if assuming that hundred or so transformer manufacturers are issued licences, may not be sufficient to fulfil the requirements of power sector and thus would warrant further extension of the Quality Control Order which may create complications as some of the manufacturers who have already been issued licences in the current year, would be due for renewal. Such a situation is not conducive both for the industry and the power sector and would give more time to the unscrupulous elements to carry on with dubious means to import spurious material thereby defeating the very purpose of issue of Quality Control Order. It would thus call for high level intervention to stream line the process for grant/ issue of licences to the applicants. (KNN/ NM)
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