Toshiba JSW Turbine and Generator Pvt Ltd, a 75:25 joint venture between Japan-based Toshiba Corporation and India's leading conglomerate JSW Group, inaugurated its super critical steam turbine and generator manufacturing facility in Chennai on February 12, 2012. The main plant was inaugurated in the presence of the Selvi J Jayalalithaa, Hon'ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.

The new manufacturing facility will produce high-efficiency steam turbines and generators for super critical thermal power plants, in generating capacities ranging from 500 MW to 1000 MW. The plant will have an annual production capacity of 3000 MW by the end of FY2012. It will form a major manufacturing hub serving the global markets, alongside Toshiba's manufacturing base in Japan.

Toshiba JSW also announced plans to double manufacturing capacity to 6000 MW by FY2015, when it will aim for US$400 million in sales. Its initial production will be shipped to customers in India, and subsequent output will also be exported to emerging economies of Southeast Asia and the Middle East. The expansion will also see Toshiba JSW increase its employee base in India to 500 over the next three years, from around 200 today.

Construction of the manufacturing facility with a floor area of around 60,000 sq.m, commenced in February 2010 on a 400,000 sq.m plot close to Ennore in Chennai. The plant includes a blade manufacturing shop that was completed in January 2011 and now produces specialised turbine blades.

Mr Norio Sasaki, President and CEO of Toshiba Corporation, offered his views on the new plant: "We at Toshiba are delighted to celebrate the official inauguration of this important facility, which we position as an essential hub to sustain the long-term growth of our global thermal power plant system business. I believe this facility will also contribute to strengthening the ever-growing ties between our countries, and allow us contribute to the dynamic development of the Indian economy through our technologies, manufacturing and employment creation."

Commenting on the occasion, Mr Sajjan Jindal, Chairman & Managing Director, JSW Energy Limited, said, "Establishing a state-of-art power equipment manufacturing facility in India is in line with our long term vision to be present in the entire value chain of power business from equipment manufacturing, generation, transmission, power trading and distribution. Toshiba JSW's manufacturing facility built with active support from the Tamil Nadu government, will further contribute to the development of local industry and will contribute to achieving self-sufficiency in sourcing of power equipment in India."

Mr Itaru Ishibashi, Managing Director of Toshiba JSW Turbine and Generator Pvt Ltd, said: "Toshiba JSW will manufacture steam turbines and generators for leading edge thermal power plants, and by doing so will contribute to the development of India's power industry. The support we have received from the government and local community gives me every confidence for the long term success of Toshiba JSW."

Driven by strong economic growth, the Indian power generation equipment market is expected to see a demand growth of more than 16,000 MW per year in the decade from 2007 to 2017. Coal-fired thermal power projects will account for over 60 per cent of this projected capacity growth. The global market is also expected to see continued growth in demand for thermal power generation equipment in growing markets, to about 84,000 MW per annum by the year 2020.