CEA Seeks to Curb Import Dependence, Urges Shift to Domestic Manufacturing

In a strategic move to bolster India's energy security and industrial self-reliance, the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has released a draft list of critical power sector components currently being imported and invited public comments on it.

The draft document identifies several components across the power generation, transmission, and distribution value chains, including control and protection relays, SCADA and EMS platforms, HVDC valve parts, and spares for gas and hydro power plants.

The CEA is now seeking stakeholder feedback on three key areas viz.validating or expanding the list of components, identifying Indian manufacturing alternatives, and recommending research support or policy incentives to enable substitution. The feedback can be sunmitted by 20th June.

The agency flagged three major concerns driving the initiative: strategic vulnerability due to over-reliance on select foreign suppliers, cybersecurity risks from proprietary software embedded in imported systems, and delays in repair and maintenance stemming from limited domestic servicing capacity.

Officials emphasised that building domestic manufacturing capabilities for these critical components would significantly improve project timelines, reduce long-term costs, and enhance operational reliability.

Global peers have already moved in this direction. The United States has rolled out the Inflation Reduction Act to boost local clean energy tech manufacturing, while the EU’s Net-Zero Industry Act supports domestic industrial growth. China, meanwhile, has achieved self-reliance across most grid infrastructure needs.

India’s move comes amid growing recognition that energy infrastructure is not just an economic asset but a strategic one. The CEA’s draft list and call for comments aim to foster innovation, resilience, and national control in the power sector, paving the way for a secure and self-sufficient energy future.