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-0.55 (-1.05%)
-0.8 (-1.53%) | Chairman's Speech (KSK Energy Ventures) | Year : Mar '12 |
Dear Shareholders, The year 2011 -12 is an extraordinary year of contrasts lor the Indian power generation sector. While the year witnessed the highest ever capacity addition for the country In a single year of c.20 GW the average Plant Load Factor (PLF) of thermal power plants across the country has come down below 75% reflecting the policy asymmetries and paralysis In addressing various Issues. Similarly, while attempting to address utility financials through distribution tariff reforms coupled with competitive procurement, parallel attempts to restructure and rewrite existing power purchase agreements of a lew developers to accommodate high cost imported fuel pass-through has brought in new challenge on responding to the worsening utility financials. While an ambitious capacity addition target of 75 GW over the next 5 years has been set, the limited effort is on to enhance production of low cost domestic coal and gas exploitation and supplies resulting in power lenders being driven to restructuring of their loan portfolios. The developer challenges, while acute, the solutions look very simple - addressing the fuel security with flexible approach on asset build on ground for strong and power generation assets. I am pleased to report that the financial year under review has been successful for the business given that the year has been one of the most turbulent times of the power sector In India and Indian economy as a whole in the recent past. The significant drop in economic growth rate accompanied by currency depreciation of over c. 15%, with further depreciation of c.11% during the first 3 months of the current year, has led to large scale earnings'' volatilities despite strong underlying operational performance. Further, with government delays In granting environmental permits and sluggish coal and natural gas production across the country, large sized generation units have been affected, with major efforts now needed by developers to synchronize planned generation capacities with fuel supplies. Thermal Energy The company is currently operating 881 MW of generation capacity with an additional 3600 MW KSK Mahanadl power project with 6 units of 600 MW each under advanced construction and the first two units expected to be commissioned during the calendar year of 2013. It Is my firm belief that with commencement of power generation and with completion of all the six units In 2014, the company will be one of the largest single location green field projects In India and would join the league of the largest private power project developers In India albeit with a difference that a large part of the operational capacity would be based on dedicated access to domestic coal resources, with only marginal deficits and incremental gaps being bridged by imported coal. While resolution of the Morga-ll or supplies from alternate block has been slower than anticipated, recent development indicate that these would be addressed during the course of the current year. However, on the Immediate term requirements, the Company is working on a combination of (1) coal supplies from Gare-Pelma coal block that has been allotted to GIDC (2) tapering coal linkage supplies from South Eastern Collieries and (3) Imported / market coal to bridge any temporary deficits. Also, the Company has been successful in leveraging the technical and financial strength of other group companies especially with respect to setup of various ancillary infrastructure that support the power generation assets being developed by the Group, more specifically, the KSK Mahanadi Power project. Notable progress has been achieved in the water infrastructure, rail infrastructure, supporting coal transportation needs and the mine development initiatives related to the KSK Mahanadi project and each of such projects are being pursued by associate / fellow subsidiary companies of the larger KSK group. Insofar as operational capacities, significant achievements during the period include execution of fuel supply agreement and commencement of coal supplies from Western Coal Fields under cost plus coal arrangement as well as obtaining open access for power supplies. With these developments, we anticipate the PLF of 60% during 2011-12 would substantially improve during the ensuing year and enable us to operate on sound financial basis to enable continuing cash flows being generated in Wardha Warora. Sai Regency, the gas based power plant of the group has continued to provide exceptional performance on PLF and financial parameters during the current year. VS Lignite, the lignite power plant of the group has also recorded good PLF performance although with moderate financial performance. Arasmeta, the captive power plant with two units of 43 MWs has recorded low performance both on PLF and financial parameters primarily on account of the captive consumer not consuming contracted power from the expansion unit. In addition to taking up appropriate remedies, we anticipate that industrial customers, who have been experiencing extremely high alternate tariffs from local utilities, would find our power plant tariffs from the plants attractive and perform their obligations under their respective PPAs providing the much required sustainability to the underlying project companies. Renewable Energy The Company''s foray into hydro power generation is marked more by completion of the necessary detailed project reports and geo technical studies for the larger hydro opportunities in the State of Arunachal Pradesh. The Group continues its efforts for collaboration with large reputed hydro power plant developers to move forward to the next stage of development and capital commitment of these large hydro initiatives. The solar energy generation initiative of the Group has acquired a new thrust with recent securing of a project award for setup of c.10 MW of solar power generation plant in the State of Rajasthan under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission with power purchase agreement with the prescribed nodal agency. We anticipate construction of this plant in the current financial year and that would strengthen the renewable initiatives of the Group. As regards wind power generation initiatives, the Group had 52 MW of earlier technology small size wind energy generators along with 18.9 MW of new generation individual turbines of 2.1 MW each in the Sai Regency. The group has divested the 52 MW and intends to focus on greenfield projects with higher PLF potential. While efforts have been initiated to procure wind energy generators at competitive prices, including from China, the Group continues to acquire concessions directly and setup the wind farms in collaboration. Sustainability Initiatives It is important to highlight that none of the above progress is either meaningful or sustainable unless the same is coupled with larger perspective of being an exemplary organization effectively contributing to the communities where we construct and operate our asset with a longer term outlook for our various stakeholder at large. While the Group continues to promote Community Leadership that primarily focuses on the thrust areas of Education, Socio-Economic Empowerment, Infrastructure Development and Cultural & Social Contribution, the Group during the year has initiated large scale collaboration that would build healthy and sustainable communities wherever the business activities are pursued in the longer term but also provide immediate term interventions that seek to change the conventional approaches to infrastructure provision for the poor on a low cost and sustainable basis. In addition to immediate term interventions, the requirement for premier medical facilities with comprehensive diagnostic, in-patient and surgical facilities to provide tertiary treatments while simultaneously supporting the primary healthcare centres that support Immediate project neighborhood has been reinforced In the context of increasing incidences of such ailments in the country generally as well as lack of any such appropriate facilities currently within the surroundings of the project locations. With extensive foot print of pro|ects (both power generation and support infrastructure) in terms of size across the State of Chhattisgarh, the Group has drawn a blue print and master plan for focused sustainability initiatives in the area of health care - both primary health care support centers at each of our pro|ect locations In Chhattisgarh and a master Tertiary Healthcare facility at Raipur, the capital of Chhatdsgarh. It is our belief that upon successful completion of these initiatives, the Group would have demonstrated truly unique models of sustainability and community support Initiatives that would truly bring ''dignity to human IHe1. Outlook Despite continual business progress and sustained business operations as well as an open offer process under SEBI Substantial Acquisition and Takeover Regulations (SAST Regulations) has been completed by the promoter group by acquiring additional 20% of the Company and promoter holding aggregating to 74.94% In the Company during the year under review, the price performance of the Company''s stock on the stock exchanges has not been highly encouraging. The coming years are crucial for the power sector in the country as there are new challenges, of course, coupled with new opportunities. It Is a fact that any organization will be able to prosper or survive only if it is able to survive emerging trends and is capable of transforming itself continuously on the ground to meet the new challenges and address them decisively. While the economic outlook in the short and medium term Is challenging and fraught with uncertainties, the Indian economic growth potential and unfulfilled demand for power generation in India is expected to continue through the coming decade. With increasing shortages of supplies from Coal India, we expect only Indian power generators who have been successful In securing their fuel supplies would passthrough this phase successfully and in fact, will have an opportunity to outlive these tumultuous times. It is anticipated that with all these initiatives, KSK is well positioned in this regard. The reasonably sized effective operation asset base coupled with the 3.6 GW project under execution, the Company would have demonstrated its ability to respond effectively. In the coming year, the Company will continue to look for the most efficient forms ofdebtfinancingfbrthe Company and its operations. I thank you for your continued encouragement, trust, tremendous support and faith shown in your Company, which allowed us to create value for your Company. It would be our endeavor to ensure that the Company evolves into one of the India''s largest diversified power developers. I also express my gratitude to all my colleagues on the Board for their continued support. I also convey my sincere gratitude to different Governmental Agencies and Authorities at the Centre and States and to Regulatory Authorities, Lending Institutions and the Shareholders for their consistent support. I also thank every employee of the Company for their contribution to the growth of the Company. The great thing In the world Is not so much where we stand, as In what direction we are moving said, Oliver Wendell Holmes the renowned American physician and poet. We have to look to the future with optimistic attitude and we are aware that we are currently operating In a highly challenging environment. T.L. Sankar Chairman |
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| Source : Dion Global Solutions Limited | |
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