Digitalisation and quality consciousness will transform the power sector

Hamza Arsiwala, Managing Director, Stelmec Limited & Vice President, IEEMA.  In an interview with EPR Magazine.

What are your views about the 15th edition of ELECRAMA because this is the first offline event in two years? 

The 15th edition of ELECRAMA has a wide array of new dimensions. One of the most important aspects is that we are hopefully returning back to normalcy after being hit by the pandemic. On that background, ELECRAMA 2023 promises phenomenal opportunities. The Government of India aims at becoming a “Super Supplier of Energy” in the world by 2047. The entire energy scenario is changing from conventional sources, and electricity will be the new source of energy. This ELECRAMA, coming at this time, will provide huge opportunity , will allow people to interact, do networking, and offer exposure to multiple platforms. It will also have foreign participation, among others. This ELECRAMA, I believe, will be the largest of its kind to date.

Will this opportunity act as a catalyst for the domestic manufacturers of the electrical industry?

The Government’s focus on ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ is mainly to make in India, for India and for the world. ELECRAMA will be a platform for us to showcase all the equipment and technologies for the power sector and electrical industry. E-tech Next, World Utility Summit are the aligned events at the Elecrama 2023 to look for. We, the industry and the manufacturers, are working hard to bring the world’s best technologies to you.

How is Stelmec planning to leverage this opportunity?

We, at Stelmec, primarily deal in MV switchgear. These are protection equipment in the medium voltage space from 11 kV to 36 kV. We are also into EPC, and construct substations and lines up to 765 kV; we also have an automation arm, to cater to the needs of the renewable sector and the smart grid  movement. Through our automation arm, we want exposure to new technologies. We have tied-up with several European and American manufacturers who will be collectively seen during the ELECRAMA where they can interact and explore the options in India with the net-zero, China is no longer regarded as the world’s manufacturing hub, as it once was. Now that India is showcasing its potential, all Indian manufacturers will be exposed to the overseas buyers and manufacturers and interact with them, creating further business avenues to make India the new manufacturing hub of the world.

What will be the challenges in securing the network and dealing with the cost complications in India?

India has always been a cost-sensitive market, and IEEMA has been making all efforts to bring a cultural shift in the mind-set of people in India. Furthermore, it’s important to move away from the L1 policy across the country and opt for evaluation of bidders and manufacturers based on quality and then price as practised globally. Power being a critical component of infrastructure and the overall Economy; if you compromise on quality because of the cost, you are not doing justice. Even a small increase in your investment can provide you with value for your money and like-wise a small cut in your investments can result in naught. We have to move away from being “Pound Foolish and penny wise” thinking. 

What is your view on having a digital future for Indian electricity?

Digitalisation is the way forward. What happened in the telecom sector with digitalisation is happening in the power sector as well. All the companies across the electrical and power sectors are striving to bring all the global technologies to India, in which all of the Indian manufacturers and all the members of IEEMA will stand to gain.