HBL Nife Says Navy Denied it a Fair Chance

According to The Hindu Business Line, Hyderabad-based HBL Nife Power Systems Ltd has accused the Indian Navy and Union Defense Ministry of allowing Exide to continue as a “monopoly supplier” of submarine batteries and denying a fair chance to HBL to participate in the tendering process for “procurement of 11 batteries, an order reportedly worth Rs105 crore”.

In a petition filed with the Delhi High Court, HBL has alleged that though the company had sought approval for participating in the procurement process, it was denied a “request for proposal” enquiry from the Indian Navy.

HBL is also a supplier of non-submarine batteries to the Navy and defense sector. The company now claims to have developed the ability of manufacturing and supplying submarine batteries. A company spokesperson said, “HBL Nife has received all necessary approvals for manufacturing submarine batteries.”

An Exide spokesperson said “Such batteries are the lifeline of the submarines. It takes years from development to get approval for supplying such batteries. Each of these batteries takes at least six months to produce and is worth crores of rupees. “