BS reported that Areva T&D India is all set to invest INR 700 crore for three manufacturing facilities and a research and development centre till December 2008. It aims to double its turnover to about INR 4,000 crore in 3 to 4 years.

Areva India is setting up 3 equipment manufacturing plants in Baroda, Padappai and Hosur. The Baroda facility will manufacture 765 kv equipment, including distribution transformers and medium voltage switches. This capacity will be enhanced to produce to 1,200 kv equipment by 2010.

Mr Rathin Basu president & MD of Areva India said that "We have finalized plans to set up 3 manufacturing units with an investment of INR 700 crore by December 2008. The site for the Baroda plant was finalized in January 2008 and the factory will be ready by December 2008 for an investment of about INR 500 crore."

The Hosur facility, which require about INR 100 crore as investment, will be an expanded factory of 1200 kv capacity circuit breakers and instrument transformers. A research and development centre for electrical equipment is also coming up at the site. The Chennai facility will manufacture high voltage switchgears.

Areva India runs 8 electrical equipment manufacturing units at present and manages around 70% of India's transmission and distribution load. Its order book is currently stands more than INR 3,000 crore in deal value.