Torrent Power
Encyclopedia
Torrent Power Limited is an India-based company engaged in the electricity generation
, transmission and distribution
. Its current operations are in the states of Gujarat and Maharashtra
. It is expanding into Uttar Pradesh
starting 15 August 2009. The company is the sole distributor of electricity to consumers in the cities of Ahmedabad
, Gandhinagar and Surat
.
In 2005, the parent company, Torrent Group
floated the company Torrent Power Generation to further expand into the power business. In 2006, the three power-related companies of Torrent Group
, Torrent Power AEC Ltd, Torrent Power SEC Ltd, and Torrent Power Generation Ltd were merged to form Torrent Power.
In 2007, Torrent Power signed a deal with the Gujarat Power Corporation for setting up a 1000MW coal-based power plant in Gujarat which is to be operational by 2012.
More recently, in 2009, Torrent Power inked a deal with Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited to franchisee to supply power to parts of Kanpur and Agra
then handled by The Kanpur Electricity Supply Company Ltd. (KESCo)
and the Agra Circle of Dakshinanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam Limited (DVVNL) for 20 years.
The handover has been marred by bad frequent power-cuts by the currently operating electricity boards and threats of state wide strikes by power engineers .
A unique mix of coal and gas based power plants that uses the latest power generation technologies ensures high thermal efficiency. It has plans to augment its generating capacity and is in the process of adding a standalone unit of 382.5 MW named UNOSUGEN at the existing SUGEN site and setting up a 1200 MW Greenfield DGEN Mega power project based on gas at Dahej SEZ, near Bharuch.
The T&D losses in Gujarat at 7.6% is amongst the lowest in the country. A testimony of Torrent Power’s operational efficiency is the drastic reduction in T&D losses in Bhiwandi from 48% in January 2007 to the present 19.33%.
The high points of Torrent’s foray into power however were the acquisitions of two of the India’s oldest utilities – The Surat Electricity Company Ltd and The Ahmedabad Electricity Company Ltd.
Torrent has a generation capacity of 1647.5 MW and distributes power to more than 3 million customers annually in Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Surat, Bhiwandi and Agra.
The company is currently implementing a 1200 MW gas based power project at Dahej in South Gujarat. The project, called the DGEN Power Project, is being implemented in a phased manner starting with a 400 MW first phase. It is also in the process of expanding the capacity of its SUGEN plant near Surat.
Distribution Franchise business is one area which Torrent Power has been aggressively pursuing as part of its expansion plans. Torrent Power created history by entering into the country’s first distribution franchisee agreement with Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited
for Bhiwandi Circle in December 2006. It has also been awarded the distribution franchise for Agra and Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh and has already commenced distribution operations in Agra.
Electricity generation
Electricity generation is the process of generating electric energy from other forms of energy.The fundamental principles of electricity generation were discovered during the 1820s and early 1830s by the British scientist Michael Faraday...
, transmission and distribution
Electricity distribution
File:Electricity grid simple- North America.svg|thumb|380px|right|Simplified diagram of AC electricity distribution from generation stations to consumers...
. Its current operations are in the states of Gujarat and Maharashtra
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
. It is expanding into Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
starting 15 August 2009. The company is the sole distributor of electricity to consumers in the cities of Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad also known as Karnavati is the largest city in Gujarat, India. It is the former capital of Gujarat and is also the judicial capital of Gujarat as the Gujarat High Court has its seat in Ahmedabad...
, Gandhinagar and Surat
Surat
Surat , also known as Suryapur, is the commercial capital city of the Indian state of Gujarat. Surat is India's Eighth most populous city and Ninth-most populous urban agglomeration. It is also administrative capital of Surat district and one of the fastest growing cities in India. The city proper...
.
History
In 1997, the company received clearance from the Foreign Investment Promotion Board to issue preferential shares to US based MNC Investment Corporation for Rs. 400 Crore to help fund its acquisition of the Ahemdabad Electricity Company by purchasing the entire 28.89% stake held by the Gujarat government. This acquisition formed what was then known as Torrent Power AEC Limited. Similarly, after acquiring the Surat Electricity Company in the same deal, Torrent Power SEC Limited was formed.In 2005, the parent company, Torrent Group
Torrent Group
The Torrent Group worth USD 714 million is a group of companies in India founded by U. N. Mehta. Currently, the group is managed by his sons, Mr Sudhir Mehta and Mr Samir Mehta. The core business of the group is pharmaceuticals and power. The various companies under the Torrent banner are:*...
floated the company Torrent Power Generation to further expand into the power business. In 2006, the three power-related companies of Torrent Group
Torrent Group
The Torrent Group worth USD 714 million is a group of companies in India founded by U. N. Mehta. Currently, the group is managed by his sons, Mr Sudhir Mehta and Mr Samir Mehta. The core business of the group is pharmaceuticals and power. The various companies under the Torrent banner are:*...
, Torrent Power AEC Ltd, Torrent Power SEC Ltd, and Torrent Power Generation Ltd were merged to form Torrent Power.
In 2007, Torrent Power signed a deal with the Gujarat Power Corporation for setting up a 1000MW coal-based power plant in Gujarat which is to be operational by 2012.
More recently, in 2009, Torrent Power inked a deal with Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited to franchisee to supply power to parts of Kanpur and Agra
Agra
Agra a.k.a. Akbarabad is a city on the banks of the river Yamuna in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, India, west of state capital, Lucknow and south from national capital New Delhi. With a population of 1,686,976 , it is one of the most populous cities in Uttar Pradesh and the 19th most...
then handled by The Kanpur Electricity Supply Company Ltd. (KESCo)
Kesco
The Kanpur Electricity Supply Company Ltd. is an electrical power company in Kanpur, India...
and the Agra Circle of Dakshinanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam Limited (DVVNL) for 20 years.
The handover has been marred by bad frequent power-cuts by the currently operating electricity boards and threats of state wide strikes by power engineers .
Generation
Torrent Power has an aggregate generating capacity of 1647.5 MW comprising:- 1147.5 MW SUGEN gas based mega combined cycle power plant near Surat
- 400 MW coal based thermal power station at Sabarmati, Ahmedabad
- 100 MW gas based combined cycle power plant at Vatva, Ahmedabad
A unique mix of coal and gas based power plants that uses the latest power generation technologies ensures high thermal efficiency. It has plans to augment its generating capacity and is in the process of adding a standalone unit of 382.5 MW named UNOSUGEN at the existing SUGEN site and setting up a 1200 MW Greenfield DGEN Mega power project based on gas at Dahej SEZ, near Bharuch.
Transmission
Torrent Power is in the process of setting up a 400 KV transmission system for evacuating power generated at its SUGEN plant to the various off take centers. The project being implemented in a phased manner is nearing completion and is expected to be fully functional during FY 2010-11.Distribution
Torrent Power transmits and distributes more than 12 billion units of power to around 2.2 million customers in the cities of Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Surat and Bhiwandi spanning an area of 408 km2. and franchise area of 721 km2. These cities are major industrial and commercial hubs.The T&D losses in Gujarat at 7.6% is amongst the lowest in the country. A testimony of Torrent Power’s operational efficiency is the drastic reduction in T&D losses in Bhiwandi from 48% in January 2007 to the present 19.33%.
Further info
Torrent Power is one of the leading brands in the Indian power sector, promoted by the Rs. 8200 crore Torrent Group – a healthcare and power group.The high points of Torrent’s foray into power however were the acquisitions of two of the India’s oldest utilities – The Surat Electricity Company Ltd and The Ahmedabad Electricity Company Ltd.
Torrent has a generation capacity of 1647.5 MW and distributes power to more than 3 million customers annually in Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Surat, Bhiwandi and Agra.
The company is currently implementing a 1200 MW gas based power project at Dahej in South Gujarat. The project, called the DGEN Power Project, is being implemented in a phased manner starting with a 400 MW first phase. It is also in the process of expanding the capacity of its SUGEN plant near Surat.
Distribution Franchise business is one area which Torrent Power has been aggressively pursuing as part of its expansion plans. Torrent Power created history by entering into the country’s first distribution franchisee agreement with Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited
Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited
Mahavitaran or Mahadiscom controlled by Government of Maharashtra, is a public sector company which distributes electricity to all regions of the state; except Mumbai city and the most part of its suburban region, where BEST and Reliance Energy, TATA Power, are the only...
for Bhiwandi Circle in December 2006. It has also been awarded the distribution franchise for Agra and Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh and has already commenced distribution operations in Agra.