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Navy aircraft engine overhaul facility to be set up in Cochin

The Pegasus-powered Sea Harrier jets of the Indian air force will now have an engine overhauling facility at Cochin, according to Rod Williams, managing director, Rolls-Royce India limited.

The Pegasus, which is a Rolls Royce Hero engine, is today serviced in Britain. In order to avoid the transportation and the costs that accrue, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, in technical collaboration with Rolls Royce, will set up an engine overhauling facility at Cochin. "The facility would take two years to complete," Williams said.

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, whose engine division was developed with help from Rolls Royce, is manufacturing the Rolls-Royce megaturbo Adour engines for the IAF's Jaguar, "HAL has been involved with the Adour for nearly 20 years under the biggest of Rolls-Royce manufacturing agreements in India," Williams said.

HAL also makes components for the Allison engine company which has been part of the Rolls-Royce group since 1995.

Rolls Royce also has plans to enter the captive power market in India. "Although it is still in early stage, we are looking for partners who can add value and it would not necessarily be joint ventures," Williams added.

The projects could vary anywhere between two megawatts to 150 mw. The plants, which would be either gas or diesel, will have the domestic units purchasing their requirements from Rolls Royce, especially the equipment.

The company is also looking at the port development scenario in India, mainly in the operating and maintenance of ports. It has already started a survey on the specific locations for their business.

"Port development is going to become an interesting area, William said.

"We are looking to expand our share of the transmission and distribution market and to look at India as a base from which we want to maintain competitiveness in other Asian markets,", William said.

Bellis India in Calcutta, which manufactures the Allen steam turbines used extensively in the sugar industry, had recently announced plans to increase the range from 8 mw to 30 mw.

Rolls Royce has a 40 per cent stake in the joint venture. These steam turbines are part of the Rolls-Royce's power generating range which now includes the industrial Trent, the most powerful and efficient aero-derivative gas turbine, capable of 50-60 mw of power.

Allen Diesels has been supplying S-37 diesel engines for crude oil pumping for more than 30 years and the latest order is for six crude oil pumping sets for Indian Oil Company for a new oil pipeline running from the port of Haldia to a refinery at Barauni.

William said Rolls-Royce and its Copper Rolls joint venture also power many of the Bombay High shore platforms, using RB211 and Avon aero-derivatives engines.

UNI