The Hindu Business Line : Transportation issues may impact ONGC Tripura power project

Transportation of plant and machinery will hold the key for implementation of ONGC’s proposed 2X370 MW gas-based power station in Tripura. The issue may also impact the final cost of the ONGC Tripura power project.

In November, ONGC had received bids only from BHEL and Alstom for the EPC contract. The company has targeted award of bids in April. However, as things stand now, the company may not be able to open the financial bids till the transportations issues are sorted out. According to sources, faced with physical constraints in moving the heavy power equipment through land and waterways within the national boundaries, the energy major has now planned to move the equipment through Bangladesh, which is easier said than done.

Though there is a transit treaty between the two nations, the route preferred by ONGC does not fall under the agreed pact, thereby, requiring special approvals from the Bangladesh Government and fresh negotiations between the nations.

While the Union Ministry of External Affairs has already started working on the same, ONGC, in the meantime, is considering appointing “an agent” in Bangladesh to help speed up matters.

“Each module of the 2X370 MW power station would weigh 280 tonnes. The only available route within the national boundary would require use of the waterway route up to Karimgunj, followed by the long land route through the hills to the project site at Palatana in Tripura,” a source said.

“However, we dare not opt for this route as the road from Karimgunj to Palatana is hardly suitable for transporting such heavy equipment and would also entail huge expenditure and time on road preparation, ” he added.

Interestingly, a North-East based power utility had previously opted for this route to move much smaller power generation modules.

According to available information, the effort reportedly involved no less than eight months for completion of the transportation job.

“We are, therefore, stressing on transporting equipment through waterways from Haldia to Ashuganj in Bangladesh, which is only 65 km away from the Akhaura border (with Bangladesh) in Tripura accessed by comparatively better roads; and, round the year navigability up to Ashuganj is said to be an added attraction. The only problem is that Ashuganj is not covered by the Indo-Bangla transport treaty,” the source said.

The project is implemented through ONGC Tripura Power and may finally help the company to monetise ONGC’s substantial gas reserves in the State.

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
EADS gets AP police contract

Limit cost accounting norms to essential goods units: CII

Transportation issues may impact ONGC Tripura power project

Terrafirm to launch training division