Brugg Cables a Swiss based company was founded by Mr. Gottlieb Suhner in 1896. With the workforce of approximately 2,000 they are present throughout the world and have supply references in 64 countries. They are one of the pioneers in high voltage power transmission cables with offering up to 550 kilovolt in high voltage cables system. In India, Brugg Cables marked its presence in 1997 with the focus on high voltage systems mostly 400 kv grade and high voltage accessories ranging from 66 kv up to 220 kv grade. During the interaction with Mr. Deepal Shah, Country Manager, Brugg Cables (BU-High Voltage) we explored more about Brugg Cables in India, its future plans etc. Excerpts
Wire & Cable India: Brief us about the journey of Brugg Cables in India?
Deepal Shah: India is a potential and important market for Brugg. We have presence in India for more than 15 years. Brugg has registered company in India based in Gurgaon. The company is focused in premium high voltage cable accessory from 66 to 220 kv and EHV cable system in 400 kv. Brugg believes in highest quality, safety and reliability. Brugg has completed many projects in PGCIL, NHPC, NPCIL, NTPC, Delhi Transco etc. The superior quality of HV Accessory and excellent workmanship is the key for Brugg success in India.
KEI is Brugg licensee in India and producing the cables from 66 to 220 kv under Brugg’s technology. They have successfully type tested 220 kv cables with Brugg HV Accessory. This will be beneficial to Indian power utilities in dropping down their cost and delivery.
Brugg is independently supplying 400 kv cables system to Indian utilities, which comes from Brugg Switzerland plant. So far the major potential in 400 kv is from hydro sector. Now we are expecting good business from Power Grid and State Electricity Boards as well.
WCI: What are the new developments at Brugg as well as your future plans?
DS: Brugg will be stabilizing their Indian operations in this financial year. In HV Accessory segment Brugg has launched:
- Explosion resistance outdoor termination, this will ensure maximum protection of the surrounding area and human life.
- MPSP joints which offers highest level of safety and reliability against mechanical forces and water. This will ensure the system life up to 50 years.
- Dry Type of GIS Termination in India. Brugg standard GIS Terminations are already in successful operation for more than 10 years in India.
The installation of HV Accessory plays a very important role in system reliability hence Brugg will be having dedicated team of engineers in India in near future. Brugg is planning for domestic assembly unit in HV Accessory by 2015. We are expecting 25% organic growth in this segment. Moreover, we are looking forward to the accessories business in 66 kv, 132 kv and 220 kv from India and South Asia.
Pertaining to high voltage system we are expecting the market potential of 1,000 km in 220 kv & 400 kv grade during this financial year from India. This segment has sound potential and long term future growth for many decades. We have good projects in pipeline and expecting sizable business in this financial year. At present Brugg will be maintaining the production of 400 kv cables from Switzerland plant.
WCI: Give your views on the cable industry in India what kind of scenario you foresee at present and in future?
DS: India is a big market for cable industry with a market potential of more than USD 4 billion. This will be the important year for India in power transmission, as many high voltage system projects will be finalized in this year. Now as the customer is more educated and experienced hence the demand of quality suppliers is steadily increasing. I am quite sure that in future the customer will be analyzing the lifetime cost in place of one time purchase cost. There are many examples where the replacement of HV Accessory cost less than CHF 15,000/- but the other cascading effects and loss of production are in millions of dollar.
The ministry and power utilities should finalize the project not on one time cost but on the product life cycle cost. This will give fair competition to Indian companies as well as open the opportunities for global players. The HV Accessories and installation plays a vital role in the reliability and safety of the power system. The power utilities must encourage reputable HV Accessory supplier to ensure the reliable power supply. It cost just less than 7% of total value.
As a Chairman of CIGRE NSC B1 India (High Voltage Cables) I have prepared the guideline and recommendations are sent in Ministry of Power. In fact CIGRE India B1 Committee is making the manual on high voltage cable systems and will be completed in next 10-12 months. This will provide certain guidelines for Central and State Power Utilities and other Power Transmission Utilities to frame the specifications.
WCI: Highlight some of the challenges of working in India?
DS: The products that are supplied by Brugg are expensive and require proper handling and installation technique and for that trained manpower is essential. The infrastructure is poorly managed besides that, transportation is a big problem and sometime you need special vehicles for transporting the material, which are not available. What we have observed is that 85% of the failures are caused due to improper handling and error in installation process. Most of the time we have observed that HV Accessory specifications are in general and without details. The major business comes from the government sector so once the tender is announced it is difficult to amend it later on. Some power utilities are recommending certain manufacturing process under the influence of specific companies for triple extrusion. This restricts the competition and not in favor of customer. Instead of that power utility should focus to strengthen the technical specification in place of restriction of manufacturing process.