Delhi-based power trading company Instinct Infra & Power Ltd (IIPL) started bilateral operations in power trading three years ago and there has been no looking back since. Swati Gupta, director of the company, tells FE?s Kirtika Suneja that the company?s growth has been phenomenal, especially since it is competing with industry heavyweights. She is eyeing a three-fold increase in the firm’s revenues, besides diversifying into renewable energy trading. Excerpts:

What makes you set such ambitious targets for the company?

There is an increased demand for power and core sectors like steel and cement are driving it. Besides power trading, we are also into trading of renewable energy certificates (RECs), which is another growing area. We got our licence in 2004, but started our operations only in July 2008. Since then, we have come a long way to establish a position for ourselves in this dynamic market.

What sort of targets have you set for revenue, headcount and clients?

We are eyeing a three-fold increase in revenue to R500 crore this year compared with the current turnover of R150 crore. Further, we also plan to get listed on the stock exchanges in the next two years. The present headcount of the company is 30 and we might increase it as and when our geographical footprint expands. We currently have 100 operational clients on the Indian Energy Exchange and almost 100 clients in pipeline.

Where all are your clients based and which new states are you looking at?

We have extended our operations in Tamil Nadu and have already opened an office there. We have signed agreements with clients in Uttarakhand, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh., Himachal, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Rajasthan.

How does the market look like in terms of industry sectors for power trading?

Retail and textiles are driving our revenues and cement is an emerging sector. All these will help us in achieving the R500-crore revenue target.]How is the REC market fairing and how do you plan to tap that market?

We traded 96% of the RECs in April this year and the market is fairing well. We are doing captive generation for green energy and will soon get in touch with wind and solar players like Suzlon and Moser Baer. Moreover, all the open access consumers are obligated to buy RECs. Hence, the market is all set to expand.