The first unit of ONGC Tripura Power Company's 2 X 363.3 MW gas-based power plant in Palatana may become operational by end-May. Power generation and stabilization of production at unit I will take another 4-6 weeks.

Sources told Business Line that the gas injection to the boiler will take place by the end of this month. The parent, ONGC has completed the laying of gas pipelines nearly a month ago.

North-East Power Transmission Company (NEPTC) — a joint venture between OTPC, Power Grid and the beneficiary States — is nearing completion of 246-km of the Palatana (Tripura) — Silchar (Assam) transmission line. This is the first phase of a 661-km transmission project which should connect OTPC to the national grid at Bongaigaon.

“We are expecting the generation to stabilise by end-July. Meanwhile, there will be reasonable progress in implementing the second phase of the transmission project,” a source close to the OTPC project told Business Line .

According him, expectations are rife that the 122-km Silchar (Asam) — Byrnihat (Meghalaya) stretch of the transmission project will be operational by August, helping OTPC to tap more demand in the region.

As per the agreement, of the total 363-MW generation from the first unit, 99-MW may be allocated to Tripura and 120 MW to Assam. However, due to lack of industrial activity, the region's appetite for power may be lower. Also, compared to gas-based power, the region has access to cheaper hydro-electric generation.

The issues will be settled once the power evacuation facility is fully commissioned.

The project, which is a hallmark of Indo-Bangla cooperation (ensuring smooth passage of the heavy project equipment to Palatana in Tripura through Bangladesh), will help ONGC to monetise its idle gas assets in Tripura.

The oil and gas major is on course to step up gas production in Tripura from 1.7 million standard cubic metre a day (mmscmd) to a little over 5 mmscmd.

>pratim@thehindu.co.in

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