Govt proposes a levy of 21% on imported power equipment

21 Jun 2012 Evaluate

In an effort to protect the domestic power manufactures such as BHEL from Chinese and Korean companies, the Power Ministry will move a note to the Union Cabinet to charge 21% duty on imported power equipments. Power companies had earlier resisted an increase in duty on equipment import, especially after they have become costlier as the rupee had depreciated by 28% in the past two years.

The levy will compose of 5% basic, 12% countervailing and 4% special additional duty and this plan will be taken into account within the next 20 days. Currently, equipment which is imported for projects less than 1,000 mw capacity is charged 5% customs duty. In response to power ministry’s plan to levy charges, the association of power producer, which represent 24 power companies has urged the government not to impose any charges on imported power equipments as they have become costly after the rupee had depreciated against the dollar.

Ashok Khurana the Director General of Association of Power Producer said that there has been an implicit duty of more than 28% on equipment and machinery imports as against the recommendation 14% duty by Arun Misra Committee.

Due to adverse effect such as low fuel availability, pricing concern, financial difficulties, rupee devaluation and poor financial condition of state run electricity boards have led to an increase in cost of power generation that has left the developers with no option but to run at sub-optimal capacities.

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