NTH to set up testing facility for transformers, cables & conductors in Jaipur

21 Dec 2022

The National Test House (NTH) has decided to set up a state-of-the-art transformer testing facility in Jaipur, an official said on Monday.The testing facility will offer testing arena for transformers with range up to 10MVA. Apart from transformer testing, other allied distribution and transmission equipment like current transformers, potential transformers, overhead conductors, high voltage XLPE cables, insulators, and surge arrestors will be tested at this facility, the official added.As per reports, NTH will also set up EV battery testing facilities and charging systems at its Mumbai and Kolkata centres.Addressing a press conference, Nidhi Khare, Additional Secretary in the Department of Consumer Affairs, said the testing centres will be set up by next fiscal year.The transformer testing facility at Jaipur is expected to spread over about 10,000 square metre area and the project will cost around Rs 125 crore. “The government of Rajasthan has given this land virtually free, at a token amount of Rs 1. This is also something that is very-very essential in bringing down the transportation cost, which was otherwise making the testing very-very costly,” Khare said.Currently, most of the transformer manufacturers from Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh have to transport their transformers to Electrical Research and Development Association (ERDA), Vadodara, and Central Power Research Institute (CPRI) Bhopal/Bangalore for testing.

“This test facility will reduce the transportation cost and time taken in getting transformer samples tested. This will reduce the present queuing time in testing of transformers from months to a few days,” said an official statement.

Alok Kumar Shrivastava, who was also present on the occasion, said that as part of its new initiatives, the NTH will set up electric vehicles and their charging system testing facilities. Stating that EVs need testing and standardisation, he said that the NTH Mumbai and Kolkata regions will set up EV battery and EV charging system test facilities.