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Views of Mr. P.V. Chandran, Chairman cum Managing Director,
Ambika Cotton Mills Pvt. Limited
Ambika Cotton Mills is a public limited company and its shares are listed
with Bombay Stock Exchange. The company has 3 units of production in
operation and the 4th unit with 44000 spindles nearing fast completion,
taking the total to 1,10,000 spindles. The company has wind turbine
installation of 13.8 MW comprising Enercon Make ‘Gearless Wind Turbines’
for its captive use in the state of Tamilnadu.
Excerpts of the Interview with Mr. P.V. Chandran – CMD, ACML
VAYU : Upgrading and developing from conventional spinning machines to sophisticated ‘Compact Spinning System’, how do you see the journey of ACML since the last 18 years?
Chandran : We have adopted as our core policy, introducing new value added products for our customers. This has helped us to move from commodity spinning to Compact Spinning.
VAYU : Being a direct exporter of contamination-free cotton yarn to majority of the Southeast Asian countries including China, how do you envisage the growth prospects of ACML?
Chandran : Ambika Cotton Mills is one of the few spinning mills in India producing specialized quality yarn. The demand for specialized quality yarn is growing at a faster pace and combined with ACML’s ability to have unmatched vision to see the future technology well ahead of competitors and realizing it in a shortest possible time, ensures our growth prospects.
VAYU : Ambika Cotton Mills Ltd. has the highest profit per spindle of cotton yarn in India. How do you see the career graph of ACML in the near future?
Chandran : Over a period of time, we have developed consistent quality parameters, and thereby created a value chain for our customers. Our innovation in product mix ensures continuation of higher profitability per spindle.
VAYU : How did you decide to venture into Wind Energy sector after attaining a strong foothold in the cotton yarn business?
Chandran : We are very concerned about the increase in power prices, which is a second big input cost next to the raw material (cotton) in Textile industry. With the introduction of TUF (Technology Upgradation Fund) and our rapid increase in power consumption due to expansion, we have decided to venture into Wind Energy to maintain our power costs in the future.
VAYU : How have the Wind Energy Converters (WECs) of Enercon helped your organization in reducing the
dependency on expensive grid power, thereby,sustaining margins?
Chandran : There has been a steady increase in the cost of fossil fuels and it is going to increase in future, so we have decided to invest in inexhaustible wind energy to maintain our power cost.
VAYU : After venturing into Wind Energy business in 2003-04, how has this non-conventional energy business helped ACML in cutting down the power consumption cost?
Chandran : We have ventured into Wind Energy during the year 2003-04 with 11 X 600 KW WECs at site in Sankaneri in Tirunelveli Dist. and an additional installation of 9 X 800 KW during FY 2005-06 in Dharapuram taluka, Erode Dist. Due to the evacuation constraint in Tamilnadu, we are yet to reap the benefits of low cost wind power.
VAYU : How do you feel being a contributor for a greener tomorrow by way of investing in Wind mills of Enercon and creating a better future for the coming generations?
Chandran : We are very proud of our involvement in creating a greener tomorrow by installing pollution
free Wind turbines. We are very conscious about creating a good environment for the future generations.
VAYU : After investing your money for the installation of WECs, how has Enercon been able to justify its WECs and the quality parameters?
Chandran : There are so many factors that determine the performance, which are out of their control viz, Grid, Monsoon and force majures. We are very happy with the quality and service of Enercon.
VAYU : How do you gauge the impact of State Govt. policies on the Wind Energy business?
Chandran : The State government policy will determine the investment in the Wind Energy project. It is necessary to have a reasonable long-term policy in force, which will give confidence to the investor.
Evacuation - A main impact on the development of the wind energy in the years to come, unless immediate
corrective steps / additional infrastructure developments are planned and implemented, the investments in this sector will become NPAs.
VAYU : Continuously expanding and modernizing the manufacturing capacity, how does ACML see the future of Wind Energy with reference to Enercon?
Chandran : With carbon credits in place, depletion of fossil fuels and higher gas prices encourage big corporates to invest in Wind Energy projects. Enercon with its technologically superior turbines will be a favorite of investors.
VAYU : What are your future plans on fresh capacity additions from our Wind Energy Converters?
Chandran : We are planning for an additional capacity to a tune of 12MW in the next financial year. We are closely monitoring the evacuation scenario in Tamilnadu.
VAYU : Being a valued customer of EIL, what areas of improvement would you like to suggest to the EIL team?
Chandran : We advise Enercon to explore good windy sites with less e v a c u a t i o n constraints and also
to introduce Mega Watt class turbines in India.
VAYU : Please comment your relationship and journey with Enercon from 2003-04 till date.
Chandran : We are maintaining a very cordial relationship with Enercon ever since our first project in Wind energy. They have a dynamic, dedicated and professional team to take care of the investors. I am sure that our WECs are in safe hands and confident of trouble free operation during the entire lifetime of the turbines.
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