AGARTALA, August 20 (TIWN): Despite the state government is reluctant and has no plan to set up gas based industries in the state the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) had intensified the gas exploration in and around the state aiming the same. The ONGC is currently eyeing forward to get commercial production of gas from Khubal likely by March 2019, said official source.

It has been learnt that the ONGC is currently working on certain projects. It includes completion of the work on Sonamura gas collection centre which has a capacity of 0.4 Million Metric Standard Cubic Meter (MMSCM), and laying of pipeline from Gojalia to Palatana OTPC for supplying sufficient gas to the plant.

The highest rate of success in exploration has convinced the authorities to make commitment to supply 36 lakh cubic meters of gas to 726-MW Palatana power project for 20 years and five lakh cubic metres to Monarchak power plant.

The official source said that the ONGC had explored 199 wells till June 30, 2015 of which 164 wells are exploratory and the rest 35 wells are development wells.

Besides, the ONGC has been eyeing forward to get enough gas from the state’s earth aiming to find a possibility of setting up gas based industries in the state whereas the state government has so far failed to offer a plan towards setting the industries as result the ONGC’s drive is put in question mark.

Currently the ONGC is supplying gas to the state’s biggest Palatanma OTPC power plant under Gomati district and Monarchak power plant under Sonamura sub-division. ONGC also takes a plan to set up Chambal fertilizer plant in Tripura which is in pipeline now.

With an aim to set up fertilizer manufacturing plant ONGC has also planned to carry hydro fracturing in some more areas at Khubal. “ONGC plans to undertake hydro-fracturing process in two more wells at Khubal to check the actual gas reserve,” adding official said, “If the gas reserve is good, then the fertilizer manufacturing plant would certainly gain ground”, he said.

To develop the productivity, ONGC has brought most advanced  hydro-fracturing technology, used for breaking the sand layer deep inside the surface of the earth to facilitate better flow of gas, he said.

The oil giant has already marked its foray into fertilizer segment by tying up with Chambal Fertilisers and Chemicals (CFCL) for setting up a urea fertilizer plant at Khubal Both the companies have agreed to form a joint venture company in this regard, in which the Tripura government will hold 10 per cent stake. A memorandum of understanding has already been signed between the three parties in this regard.