During August 2008, ProjectsToday collected information on 56 project related contracts, which were awarded across various sectors. Out of the total contracts, domestic contracts amounted to 49, representing a total investment worth Rs.13,236.46 crore.

Amongst the seven overseas contracts, Bharat Heavy Electricals bagged two hydel power contracts collectively worth Rs.650 crore. The company bagged a Rs.400 crore contract for the construction of a hydroelectric plant for setting up two units generating 14 MW each, for the Nyaborongo hydroelectric power project in Rwanda, South Africa. The other was a Rs.250 crore contract awarded by the Government of Vietnam for the Nam Chien hydro power project at Muong La in Son La province.

On the domestic front, the Power sector saw the highest number of contracts being finalised. In all, nine contracts, worth Rs.4,668.45 crore were awarded in August 2008. Amongst these, the two largest contracts amounting to Rs.3,846 crore were bagged by Bharat Heavy Electricals. The first contract (Rs.2,691 crore) was from Maharashtra State Power Generation Co (Mahagenco) for the purchase of power equipment for a power plant at Chandrapur and the other Rs.1,155 crore contract was by GVK Power for the supply and installation of the main plant package for 2x270 MW Goindwal Sahib coal based power project in Tarn Taran in Punjab.

The Irrigation sector saw four contracts worth Rs.2,539.20 crore awarded during August 2008. Hindustan Construction Co in JV with Megha Engineering & Infrastructures and CKD Blansko Engineering, Czech Republic, bagged the sector’s largest contract, worth Rs.1,398.90 crore from the Government of Andhra Pradesh, which involves construction of three rows of pipelines, measuring 38.75 km and 3 mtrs in diametre, starting from existing intake on river Godavari for the J Chokka Rao Devadula Lift Irrigation Scheme (Phase-III) - Package I.

In the Petroleum sector, seven contracts totaling Rs.2,031.90 crore were awarded, which included Oil & Natural Gas Corporation's Rs.1,611 crore contract to Shiv-Vani Oil & Gas Exploration Services, to deploy eight onshore deep drilling rigs on an integrated well completion basis for its Tripura, Sivasagar and Rajahmundry assets, for three years.

The Metallurgy sector witnessed six contracts worth Rs.1,672.88 crore and the largest contract was bagged by Heavy Engineering Corporation along with Mumbai-based Shapoorji & Pallonjee Group, for setting up a new ore bedding & blending plant and base blending facilities at Rourkela steel plant in Sundargarh, Orissa. The Rs.742 crore contract was awarded by Steel Authority of India.