India not to import power equipment from China: R K Singh

Amidst border standoff with China, Union Power Minister R K Singh on Friday said that the Centre will not allow import of power equipment from China and asked states not to place orders with neighbouring country companies.

The Minister, who chaired a virtual conference with state energy ministers, said that equipment import from China and Pakistan would not be permitted, especially on the basis of inspection.

The Minister also asked the states electricity distribution companies and other power utilities not to give orders for supply of equipment to Chinese companies.

The meeting's one of main agenda was to discuss how to reduce imports in power sector and encourage domestic companies to produce equipment.

Some (power) distribution companies are using equipment made in other countries, mainly in China, whereas those equipment are made here. Whatever is manufactured here should get priority in procurement. We need to encourage our companies so that we can create employment in our country, the Minister said.

"We manufacture everything here. India imported Rs 71,000 crore worth power equipment including Rs 21,000 crore from China. "This (huge import of power equipment) is something we cannot tolerate when a country transgresses into our territory....we will not take anything from China and Pakistan, " he said.

"We will not give permission for import from Prior Reference countries. There could be malware or trojan horse in those (imports from China) which they can activate remotely (to cripple our power systems)," the Minister said.

Earlier, the Minister said to curb import from China in power sector, the Centre is planning number of measures including custom duty on solar modules, solar cells, malware checking on products imported from China, increase domestic production of electricity equipment.

Banning of import from China will be a big blow to the neighbouring country.