Uruguay explores cooperation in wind power sector

CHENNAI - A high level delegation from Uruguay is exploring the possibility of forging cooperation with India in the wind power sector.

Led by Uruguayan Vice President Danilo Astori, the delegation visited the plant of RRB Energy Ltd (RRBEL) here Wednesday.

“We are witnessing an increased demand for wind power in our country. However, it cannot be met without the help and co-operation of a sound technical partner. There is vast scope for co-operation between Uruguay and India in the field of renewable energy,” Uruguay’s Minister for Industry, Energy and Mines Roberto Kriemerman told reporters.

“This is further aided by the agreement on trade preferences between Mercusor countries and India,” he added.

Mercusor is an economic and political agreement between countries comprising mainly of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, aimed at promoting free trade and the fluid movement of goods.

The Uruguay delegation was in Chennai as part of its seven-day visit to India.

In Delhi Thursday, Astori will hold formal discussions with Indian Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari, and also meet Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar, followed by an important business seminar Friday.

Pitching for business Rakesh Bakshi, chairman and managing director of RRBEL, said the company is ideal source for wind electric generators (WEG).

Clocking a revenue of around Rs.600 crore last fiscal RRBEL earns around 20 percent revenue from exports to the US and Europe.

Speaking to IANS, S. Venkatachalam, chief operating officer, said the company will soon complete expansion of its plant and roll out 1.8 MW WEGs from this April onwards.

The company is investing around Rs.100 crore on capacity expansion to take the production capacity to 700 MW from the current 300 MW.