CEA seeks industry inputs to localise 73 critical power sector imports

The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has issued a notice asking industry stakeholders to share detailed information to support a localisation strategy for 73 critical items that are presently imported for the power sector. Stakeholders, including the Indian Electrical and Electronics Manufacturers Association and manufacturers, are expected to submit quantified data on costs, volumes and required government support by 29 December 2025.

The notice follows consultations with major industry players. The CEA has identified 73 items where domestic manufacturing remains limited because of technology gaps, scale barriers or capability constraints. The authority has divided these items into two groups to guide the next steps.

The first group contains 16 items listed in Annexure I that the CEA has prioritised for immediate attention. These include subsea cables for high voltage direct current and high voltage alternating current systems, high voltage direct current valve assemblies such as IGBT or thyristor-based units, capacitors and cooling systems, porcelain and composite hollow insulators from 33 kV to 800 kV, permanent magnets for actuators and materials such as oxygen-free high-conductivity copper rods and epoxy raw materials.

The second group covers 57 critical items listed in Annexure II. These items require deeper input from potential manufacturers. The list includes IGBT, SiC and GaN power modules, sulphur hexafluoride gas, components for gas-insulated switchgear such as pipes, test plugs and tanks, automation machinery, specialised materials for ultra-high voltage transformers and monitoring systems such as online continuous emission monitoring systems. For these items, the CEA has provided a template seeking the estimated cost, annual domestic volume requirement over the next decade, the cost share within the final product, current import levels and the type of support needed from the government. Stakeholders are expected to quantify the financial requirement in rupees and specify any technology transfer or machinery needs.

The CEA states that the power sector continues to rely on imported advanced components, which increases exposure to supply chain risks and price volatility. The goal is to develop an industry-backed assessment to support a proposal for the Ministry of Power. The initiative aims to strengthen domestic manufacturing, reduce foreign exchange outflow and improve grid resilience in line with the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision.

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