Maruti Suzuki India, the country's largest carmaker, will lift the lockout at its Manesar facility on August 21 and restart production on a small scale. Initially, the Manesar plant will operate under heavy security at one-tenth its capacity, with 300 workers earmarked to roll out 150 Swift hatchback and DZire sedan on a daily basis from its two plants. Maruti had declared the lockout at the Manesar plant on July 21 after workers went on a rampage killing one official and injuring a hundred others. The company will dismiss at least 500 permanent workers, including the 154 workers who are currently in police custody. The company will deploy 100 security guards at the factory, in addition to 500 armed police provided by the Haryana state government, to ensure safety.

In its first overseas acquisition, Cairn India has bought a 60 percent interest in a gas discovery block on the west coast of South Africa. Cairn signed a farm-in agreement with Petroleum Oil and Gas Corporation of South Africa (PetroSA) to take 60 percent interest in 19,922 square kilometre Block 1 in the Orange Basin on the west coast of South Africa. Block 1 is currently in the initial stages of exploration. It has an existing gas discovery and identified oil and gas leads and prospects. Located in the geologically-proven Orange Basin along the north-western maritime border of South Africa with Namibia, the block is on trend with the discovered Kudu and Ibhubesi gas fields. The Orange Basin is an emerging hydrocarbon province with potential for material oil and gas discoveries. Block 1 will be an anchor exploration asset in South Africa and will augment Cairn India's existing portfolio.

Electrosteel Steels (ESL), which has set up a greenfield steel and plant in Jharkhand, plans to sell finished products like pig iron (steel and foundry grade) and TMT bars in the market from September, 2012. Initially, ESL plans to focus on the eastern region for marketing its products and gradually increase its marketing base all across the country. The company has already established its marketing network all across the country. Electrosteel Steels will also re-start production from September, 2012 after synchronization of its production modules. This includes a Sinter Plant, Coke Over, Blast Furnace, Steel Making Shop, Pig Caster Machine, Rolling Mill, etc.

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), has entered into a  definitive agreement to acquire 100 per cent equity of Computational Research Laboratories (CRL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tata Sons, for a cash consideration of Rs 188 crore ($34 million). The acquisition of CRL, a pioneering start-up firm in the arena of High Performance Computing (HPC) solutions in India, will enable TCS to extend its suite of solutions and offer integrated HPC application and Cloud services to its large base of customers. HPC applications are finding increasing relevance and use among large enterprises, as they look to solve complex business problems like reducing their time-to-market. This is driving an increase in adoption of HPC based applications for modeling, simulations, visualization and big data analysis across the business.

Wockhardt has received final approval from the United States Food & Drug Administration (US FDA) for marketing 75mg tablets of Clopidogrel bisulfate and a tentative approval for the tablets containing 300mg Clopidogrel bisulfate, which are used to help reduce risk of heart attack or stroke. Clopidogrel is the generic name for the brand Plavix, marketed in the United States by Bristol-Myers Squibb. The company would be launching the product immediately. According to IMS Health, the total market for this product in the US was over $6,500 million. Prevalence of atherosclerotic diseases is rapidly growing the world over. But by inhibiting the clotting of blood within the blood vessels, it reduces the risk of heart attacks and strokes and is one of the most used pharmaceutical products in the world.

Aluminium giant NALCO, which has plans to invest around Rs 40,000 crore in various new as well as existing projects, has a special focus on its entry into the energy sector - especially its joint venture with nuclear power major NPCIL. The company has taken up several greenfield projects. As part of this drive, plans are afoot to set up a new smelter in Western Odisha with an investment of about Rs 16,000 crore. The project is now being pursued with the Odisha government by the Navaratna PSU. Besides, the company has formed a joint venture with Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL) to set up nuclear power plants in India. Both the partners have selected Kakrapar Units 3 and 4 of 700 MW each in Gujarat as their first JV project with an estimated project cost of Rs 11,500 crore. The company is also planning to set up a Rs 4,500 crore alumina refinery in Gujarat with 1 million tonne per annum capacity.

The city based Consumer Education Research Society (CERS) want government of Gujarat to penalise Bharat Heavy Electricals (BHEL) for poor performance of its equipments supplied for Kutch Lignite Thermal Power Station (KLTPS). Commissioned in December 2009, a 75 mw station reported around 30% plant load factor for two consecutive years. Earlier, state utility Gujarat State Electricity Corporation (GSEC) stated that the plant had new technology and has teething trouble. However, CERS did not agree. It want GSEC to penalise for poor performance which and additional burden on consumers. CERS is arguing that government of Gujarat should follow an example set by Karnataka that imposed penalty of Rs 250 crore on BHEL for supplying inferior quality of equipments which delayed generation of power for one year.

NTPC and Assam Power Distribution Company (APDCL) have inked Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). The PPA arrangement is for supply of 25 Megawatt (MW) power from its Farakka Super Thermal Power Station Stage III. Presently, APDCL is allocated 144 MW power from unallocated capacity of NTPC Eastern Region stations namely Farakka Super Thermal Power Station Stage I and II, Kahalgaon Super Thermal Power Station Stage I and II and Talcher Super Thermal Power Station Stage I and 381 MW from Bongaigaon Thermal Power Project. Recently, the company had declared commercial operation of Unit- 3 of 660 MW of Sipat super thermal power station Stage - I with effect from August 01, 2012.

Coal India (CIL) has agreed to make certain changes in the fuel supply pact to be entered with state-nominated agencies. Model Fuel Supply Agreement (FSA) applicable for state- nominated agencies has been agreed by CIL in its meeting. The agreement shall, unless terminated in accordance with the terms, hereof, remain in force for a period of one year. The terms of Agreement may be extended for another year upon mutual agreement in writing by both parties provided nomination is also received for the second year. The development comes ahead of company board meeting early next month to approve model fuel supply agreement (FSA) which the coal major would sign with power companies. In the last board meeting held on August 13, the board members had sought some more time go through the clauses of both the model pacts and the side agreement minutely.