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New Delhi, 5 December 2008

Press Release

Afghanistan Energy Minister visits BSES

Says “will tap BSES expertise” to rebuild / strengthen electricity distribution back home

• High-level Afghan delegation visits BSES

• Delegation led by Mr Ahmed Wali Shairzay, Afghanistan’s Deputy Minister for Energy

• Senior USAID officials accompany Afghan delegates

• Minister impressed with BSES operations and desires to replicate the same in Kabul

The phenomenal and unparalleled success achieved by BSES discoms since July 2002 continues to impress experts – both in the national and international arena. Close on the heels of senior power department officials of Pakistan and Bangladesh – who visited BSES to understand how electricity could be distributed efficiently and profitably, BSES today was visited by a high profile delegation from Afghanistan – led by its Deputy Minister for Energy, Mr Ahmed Wali Shairzay.

The Afghanistan Deputy Minister for Energy was accompanied by Mr Eng Abdul Malik (Deputy of Kabul Electricity Department), Mr Hajji Shir Ahmad (President of Herat Electricity Department), Mr Taj Mohammad (Director of Junction Station), and senior USAID SARI / E officials.

After interacting with senior BSES officials led by its CEO Mr Arun Kanchan, the Afghan delegation visited BSES’ state-of-the-art Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition (SCADA) Centre – the nerve centre of its distribution network. The visiting dignitaries were interested to know about the experiences, challenges and learning of the process of privatisation in Delhi.

The delegation members were astounded, but appreciated the success, when a top BSES officer highlighted the fact that during the last six years BYPL and BRPL have reduced their AT & C losses by a whopping 52.8% and 47.2% respectively. They also wanted BSES officials to share other steps taken for bringing about this remarkable turnaround. Apart from this, customer care, role of IT in power distribution, technological deployments by BSES like GIS, AMR; capital investments, HVDS, operations, etc were some of the other topics on which the discussions centred. The presentation was made by BSES' senior vice president Mr Ramesh Narayanan.

The high-powered Afghan delegation has come here, under the aegis of USAID’ South Asia Regional Initiative / Energy (SARI/E) program, to interact with leading power sector experts – including those in the Government like the Union Power Secretary, Chairperson and Chief Executive of CERC and Chairman and Members of DERC.

“I am very much impressed by the spectacular turnaround brought about by BSES. We would like to tap their resources / work with them,” Mr Shairzay, Afghanistan Deputy Minister for Energy, told the media after the four-hour-long visit. While leaving, Mr Shairzay wrote in BSES’ visitors book, “A very informative presentation, excellent achievements and great potential for direct help in the energy sector for all human communities”

“We are greatly inspired by this visit of our Afghan friends. This visit is a further pointer to the success of the power privatisation process in Delhi. I am happy to note that the success of the power reforms is generating interest not only within the country but also across international borders”, said Mr Lalit Jalan, BSES Chairman.

BSES CEO, Mr Arun Kanchan, pointed out that “many who have a stake in India’s progress have been drawn to BSES in recent past. They include FICCI, CII, Planning Commission, professors and students of IIM Bangalore and faculty of IIM Ahmedabad.”

BSES, Delhi’s premier power distribution company, is committed to ensuring quality and reliable electricity supply to all its consumers.

For further information please contact:

Prashant Dua	Chandra P Kamat
Corporate Communications	Corporate Communications
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