AGARTALA, Dec 17 (TIWN): Powered by Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC), Tripura's 101 MW gas-based Monarchak power plant is now fully capable to generate about 52 MW of power on an average with the fluent supply of gas from ONGC since November 27. Talking to TIWN correspondent, NEEPCO official said that ONGC is continuously supplying 0.40 mmunit of gas to Nscmd EEPCO’s 101 MW Monarchak since November 27 without any major interruption. It was further confirmed with NEEPCO General Manager (Electrical) Samar Ranjan Biswas that Monarchak power plant is further expecting to get 0.5 mmscmd unit of gas in the coming days which may further boost the power production in the state. It is to be mentioned here that NEEPCO has demanded 0.5 mmscmd unit of gas but ONGC is unable to supply only 0.40 mmscmd due to technical problems. If not major, there are minor reports of frequent interruptions and ONGC will be able to supply 0.5 MSCMPD gas by the middle of 2016.Failure on the part of authorities concerned to ensure adequate and regular supply of gas as well as technical glitches have led to an inordinate delay in the commissioning of the state-run NEEPCO's second biggest thermal power project in Northeast India and resulted in huge losses to it for past many months.The ONGC, after many negotiations and meetings, decided to supply gas to the power plant from November 27. The power generated at 101 MW Monarchak power plant is completely used for Tripura and is not given for sale to any other states.

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.

After months of technical glitch and interruptions, ONGC began the gas supply to 101MW Monarchak plant from November 27.  In such irregular and unstable situation of power generation where Monarchak power plant was shut down for months, ONGC is now managing to supply gas to Monarchak in full swing.

If plan goes well, Monarchak will able to start generation in full load and Tripura will get additional powers. With this, Tripura will be a power surplus state with power production from Palatana as well as Monarchak. However, Another 100 MW would be given to Bangladesh from Palatana for which transmission lines are being drawn up by both the countries.

It is to be mentioned here that if everything goes well and ONGC continues uninterrupted gas supply to Monarchak power plant, Monarchak will be able to generate more than 50 MW unit of power in the state.