BEML, HEC sign pact for making mining equipment; to leverage each other's capabilities

Kolkata: Two public sector units – BEML and Heavy Engineering Corporation Ltd (HEC) – signed a MoU to produce heavy mining equipment leveraging the capabilities of each other. “The MoU will result into additional Rs 150-200 crore revenue for both PSUs. The collaboration will entail re-entering rope shovels and walking draglines manufacturing with higher indigenisation " BEML chairman and managing director D K Hota said after signing the pact. BEML had not participated in tenders for the last 3-4 years in these two products, officials said. [caption id=“attachment_2164655” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Representational image. Reuters[/caption] HEC chairman and managing director Avijit Ghosh said the purpose is to leverage manufacturing capabilities of each other in order to bring down delivery time, reduce working capital and create the capability for high capacity equipment to meet the growing demand. He said the mining products could be co-branded. At a time when around 78 percent of mining equipment is imported, such tie-up will push ‘Make in India’ initiative, officials said. Coal India is a major client for this mining equipment and its chairman and managing director A K Jha was present on the occasion. Ramping up coal production to 1 billion tonne in 3-4 years is not possible without indegenous equipment. In FY'18, coal production was 567 million tonne.