AGARTALA, January 9 (TIWN): The leading and the only Gas based Power Plant in India, Palatana OTPC (ONGC Tripura Power Company Ltd.) joint ventured by the IL&FS and Govt. of Tripura at Palatana under South Tripura likely to start its commercial generation of the Unit- II from mid February 2015, said OTPC CMD Satyajit Ganguly. According to Mr. Ganguly the second unit of the Palatana OTPC is already synchronized and undergoing certain trials and underscheduled Inter change (UI) before it starts its commercial generation. OTPC CMD Satyajit Ganguly today during the press conference at Agartala Gitanjali Guest house said that the OTPC Unit – II is likely to start its commercial generation from mid February, and are now undergoing through UI. He said that some experts from USA and abroad will come here in Tripura for the tuning of the Unit – II before it starts its commercial generationof supplying power to the entire North Eastern region.

In regard of sharing power with the neighbouring country Bangladesh Mr. Ganguly said that the OTPC Palatana Power Project Company also has the option to sell to Bangladesh once the clearance comes from the Centre. Adding to that he said that the power will be supplied to Bangladesh through a radial mode because of a difference of frequency between the two countries.

Though of course, earlier talking to TIWN, ONGC Asset Manager V.P. Mahawar said that a transmission line has to be set up in between the routes of Tripura Palatana and Bangladesh for the power transmission. On the other, Bangladesh had extended its helping hand in bringing the heavy machineries to Palatana OTPC site for the installation of the turbines, said Mahawar.

The OTPC Palatana Power Project Company also has the option of merchant sale of 98MW.

Mr. Ganguly said that out of a total of 726 MW of the Palatana OTPC 88% share will be for the state itself and rest 12% to the other states and Bangladesh also once the clearance comes.

Palatana OTPC is one of the most advanced power Unit in India. And the unit – I started its commercial generation of power with 95% Plant Load factor (PLF) by Rs. 2.50 to the North eastern states, said Ganguly. Describing the PLF he said that a plant load factor is a measure of average capacity utilization. If the PLF is affected by non-availability of fuel, maintenance shut-down, unplanned break down and no off-take (as consumption pattern fluctuates lower in nights), the generation has to be adjusted. Power (electricity) storage is not feasible. A generation of power is controlled to match the off-take. For any duration, a power plant generates below its full capacity. To that extent it is a capacity loss.

Asked about the demand of Gas from ONGC, Mr. Ganguly said that the Palatana OTPC has made an agreement of 2.65 cubic metric ton of Gas plus 20% to get gas from the ONGC. Adding to that he said that currently the gas form ONGC is available and there is no shortage of gas at OTPC for its power generation.

“Once both the units of the OTPC starts is commercial generation together than the OTPC will rest at its profit”, said Ganguly today. He added that the current demand of power for the entire North east rests at 2500 MW, whereas earlier before the installation of the Palatana OTPC the demand rested at 1500MW.

Satyajit Ganguly (CMD, Palatana OTPC) is a graduate in Electrical Engineering and has Post Graduate Diploma in Management. He has around 29 years of rich experience with various renowned power sector companies/authorities such as NTPC, CEA, Power grid, Power Exchange, Lanco Power & Vedanta Group in various responsible positions. A professional with excellent exposure in Grid Management, Power plant operations, Power Trading, Policy & Regulatory Advocacy, Compliances, Business Development, as well as Business Expansion, Mr. Ganguly has also been a speaker in various national and international forums/conferences.