AGARTALA, Nov 25 (TIWN): In another major initiative, ONGC has decided to supply point four (.4 mmscmd) unit gas to Tripura's 101 MW gas-based Monarchak power plant from Friday says NEEPCO Project Head S R Biswas.Talking to TIWN on Wednesday, NEEPCO Project Head S R Biswas confirmed that ONGC has proposed a letter to Monarchak mentioning that ONGC is capable of supplying point four unit of gas to Monarchak from Friday.It is to be mentioned here that if everything goes well Monarchak will be able to generate 50 MW unit of power from Friday, confirmed Biswas.Powered by Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC), Tripura's 101 MW gas-based Monarchak power plant will begin its power generation on a regular basis from Friday.However, the 101 MW gas-based Monarchak power plant in Sipahijala district at Sonamura sub-division will resume power production after ONGC will resume its gas supply to Monarchak power plant. The project was run by the North East Electrical Power Corporation (NEEPCO), a government undertaking. The Tripura unit of ONGC is supplying gas for the project.Talking to TIWN on Wednesday, NEEPCO Project Head S R Biswas further said that the NEEPCO 5 MW solar power plant is now all set for its partial commissioning from Friday. “During the first phase we are expecting at least 50MW generation of power”, said Biswas.

However, power generation in 101MW Monarchak plant was stopped for month because of inadequate and proper gas supply from Oil and Natural Gas Corporation,” Biswas stated. He further informed that on Friday, ONGC will pump gas to Monarchak plant but has not been able to ensure the clean flow of gas yet.

It is worthy to mention that ONGC is completely ready to supply gas to Monarchak plant for commissioning the unit. If plan goes well, Monarchak will able to start generation in full swing and Tripura will get 50 MW additional powers,” Biswas reiterated. With this, Tripura will be a power surplus state, which produces 726 MW from the gas-based thermal power project at Palatana, in Gomati district, about 60 km from here and provide power to all the North Eastern states.

Another 100 MW would be given to Bangladesh from Palatana for which transmission lines were being drawn up by both the countries.

NEEPCO, a mini-ratna company under the union power ministry, has set up the Rs.9.5 billion (nearly $150 million) gas-based power plant in Monarchak, 70 km south of Tripura capital Agartala and just eight km from the Bangladesh border.
The NEEPCO official said non-supply of gas by ONGC (Oil and Natural Gas Corporation) led to huge delay in commissioning the power project resulting in the loss of  crore a month for the past several months.
“The ONGC, after many negotiations and meetings, decided to supply gas to the power plant from Friday, accordingly, we synchronised the system,” Biswas added.
The foundation stone of the Monarchak power project was laid during the previous National Democratic Alliance government in March 2002 and the Tripura government allotted the required land to NEEPCO in 2003.