Chinese firms attracted to infrastructure investment in India
State-run Chinese companies such as China Harbour Engineering, China Southern Power Grid and China Datang Corp are looking to buy Indian companies in the engineering, procurement, construction and power generation sectors, sources have said. However, the domestic industry has been raising concerns about Chinese firms participating in India’s infrastructure projects given their strategic importance and there have been instances where India has stopped giving clearances to telecoms equipment imported from China because of security fears.

Attracted by India’s infrastructure development programme, state-run Chinese firms, including China Harbour Engineering Co. Ltd and China Datang Corp. (CDC), are looking to buy Indian companies in the engineering, procurement, construction (EPC) and power generation space, respectively to drive their business, said two people aware of the Chinese firms’ interest.

While CDC, one of China’s largest power generation utility, has been attracted by India’s stressed power projects, another government-owned firm—China Southern Power Grid is in discussions with Essel Infraprojects Ltd for jointly bidding for power transmission projects, said one of the two people cited above.

This comes in the backdrop of India’s plan to invest as much as Rs3.96 trillion in the current financial year to bankroll its new integrated infrastructure plans comprising roads, railways, waterways and civil aviation.

However, the domestic industry has been raising concerns about Chinese firms’ participation in India’s infrastructure projects given their strategic importance. There have been instances in the past when India stopped giving clearances to telecom equipment imported from China over security concerns.

“China Harbour Engineering is looking for acquisition in the EPC space across sectors. CDC has also become interested in acquiring stressed power projects," said the first person aware of the company’s India strategy, requesting anonymity.

CDC’s interest comes at a time when the government is trying to address the problem of stressed assets in the power sector. JM Financial Research, in an 8 March note, wrote that its 2016 study of stressed power assets had concluded that of the total 28 gigawatts (GW) generating capacity in question, assets accounting for 14GW were at high risk.

The second person who also didn’t wish to be identified said that Chinese firms have been trying to explore an India piece to their growth strategy.

China Harbour Engineering is a unit of China Communications Construction Co. Ltd. Chinese firms’ interest stems from ambitious plans such as Sagarmala and Bharatmala. While the total road length to be developed as expressways under Bharatmala will be around 51,000km, the Sagarmala programme envisages construction of new ports to harness the country’s 7,517km coastline and setting up as many as 142 cargo terminals at major ports.

“China Southern Power Grid has been looking to bid for power transmission projects in India and is in discussions with Essel Infraprojects for the same," said the first person cited above.

Subhash Chandra’s Essel Group has been trying to ramp up its energy sector plans, including exploring a solar module manufacturing facility with one of China’s largest solar equipment maker GCL-Poly Energy Holdings Ltd, Mint reported on 22 March. Essel Infraprojects Ltd, an Essel Group firm, has a presence across sectors such as green energy, transportation, electricity transmission and distribution, and urban infrastructure.

Experts say there may be some traction on the EPC part of the Indian infrastructure play by the Chinese firms but remain cautious about those projects which may involve asset ownership.

“On the EPC part, it is an equal opportunity for everyone to come in. On others, there is a question on how much of fruition will happen because of issues over ownership of the asset. It depends on their interest and the risks associated," said Jagannarayan Padmanabhan, director, transport and logistics at Crisil Infrastructure Advisory.

Queries emailed to the Chinese embassy in New Delhi, China Communications Construction Co., China Datang, China Southern Power Grid and Essel Infra remained unanswered.

There has been growing interest among overseas investors in the Indian infrastructure space, particularly in sectors such as energy. A case in point is Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corp. which is planning to enter India’s renewable energy sector by acquiring wind energy projects, Mint reported on 12 June.