Gujarat Borosil an Indian solar glass company that supplies up to 90% of the domestic crystalline solar panel market has called upon the Indian government to introduce anti-dumping measures on solar glass, pv magazine has learned.
Pradeep Kheruka, vice chairman of Gujarat Borosil Ltd, told pv magazine at the Intersolar Europe show that the solar glass industry in India cannot compete with subsidized materials entering the Indian market, and has petitioned the government to introduce measures designed to create a level playing field.
"Manufacturers in Europe and the U.S. cried foul on the whole anti-dumping business, and so have we in India," Kheruka said. "We can compete on quality and supply, but we are completely taxed. The competition, on the other hand, is subsidized. All we want is a level playing field."
Led by Borosil and a handful of Indian solar cell and module manufacturers, Kheruka revealed that a petition to impose anti-dumping duties on solar glass has been recommended by the Ministry of Commerce. The decision now rests with the Ministry of Finance.
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"Just like in Germany, when there was a very vocal body opposing the establishment of anti-dumping in the EU, in India we have the same: a very vocal, very robust body of people who feel that anti-dumping duties on solar glass should not be introduced," said Kheruka. "Their enthusiasm is misplaced."
In May, the Indian government recommended the application of anti-dumping duties on solar cells and modules imported from China, Taiwan, Malaysia and the U.S. The government's report on the matter found that only three Indian solar companies Indosolar, Jupiter Solar and Websol Energy Systems did not benefit from importing dumped goods. Those same three companies brought the anti-dumping complaint before the Ministry of Commerce.
While Kheruka stressed the importance of retaining a competitive domestic manufacturing base for the entire Indian solar chain, others have criticized Indias export strategy, claiming that bold capacity expansions saddled many solar companies with huge costs they were never able to recoup.
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