Universal Cables Ltd has planned to expand the manufacturing capacity of EHV cables by around 50 per cent.
In a stock exchange communication, Universal Cables said that it would be expanding the production capacity of extra high voltage (EHV) cables at the company’s facility located at Satna in Madhya Pradesh.
Currently, the manufacturing capacity of EHV cables of all types and voltage grades is around 900 km per year, and this is being expanded by 50 per cent.
This envisaged increase in capacity is likely to be fully operational by October 2023 in a phased manner, starting from August 2023.
The estimated capital outlay is Rs.40 crore that will be financed through bank loan and internal accruals, Universal Cables said.
Explaining the rationale behind the move, Universal Cables said that the proposed expansion in the production capacity is being undertaken with the prime objective of aligning the company’s manufacturing facility at Satna to keep pace with the envisaged growth in demand and migrate to the evolving technologies for manufacturing of EHV power cables.
Planned shutdown
In order to accomplish the augmentation of production capacity for EHV power cables, the main VCV (vertical continuous vulcanization) production lines will remain inoperative in a phased manner: VCV Line-1 for about 8 weeks during July-August, 2023 and VCV Line-2 for about 4 weeks during September-October, 2023, the company said.
Japanese collaboration
According to information available with T&D India, Universal Cables makes EHV cables (220kV and above, up to 500kV) through the VCV process at its Satna plant, in collaboration with Furukawa Electric Co. Ltd, Japan. The technical collaboration covers cable designing, manufacturing, laying, jointing, testing and installation. Universal Cables has also tied-up with Viscas Corporation, Japan (an alliance of Furukawa and Fujikura) for sourcing new generation cable jointing accessories for 220kV and above
Featured photograph (source: Universal Cables) is for representation only.
