AGARTALA, Jan 22 (TIWN): It can be expected that NEEPCO will be soon able to kick off power generation upto 101 MW in next few days. Talking to TIWN correspondent, NEEPCO GM Samar Ranjan Biswas said that routine inspection for the steam turbine is underway and if everything falls in the right place the steam turbine of NEEPCO will soon be able to start generation. The steam turbine capable of generating 36 MW is a put on halt for routine inspection and the work is underway, once the monitoring is completed the steam turbine will soon start generation, added Biswas. He further said that the gas turbine is capable of generating power in full swing with uninterrupted flow of gas from ONGC. He also said that the gas turbine is continuing generation in full swing and the steam turbine will blow its generation within next few days. Routine check up is necessary to monitor the technicalities of the gas turbine for conducting generation in full load, added Biswas. It is to be mentioned here that the entire power generated is given to TSECL and is not transmitted to the other states. NEEPCO GM S.R.Biswas further clarified that there is no problem in gas supply and ONGC is continuously supplying gas to Monarchak and it is expected that the steam turbine will began generation in next 12 days after the conduct of the routine check up.He also said that NEEPCO is now getting 0.5 MSCMPD gas from ONGC and the generation from gas turbine is underway in full swing.

However, once Monarchak begins power generation in full load, the entire 101 MW would be given to Tripura State Electricity Corporation Limited (TSECL) which would further resolve the electricity crisis of the north east region at a large extent, said Biswas. 

The ONGC, after many negotiations and meetings, decided to supply gas to the power plant. 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.

NEEPCO has set up the Rs.9.5 billion (nearly $150 million) 101 MW capacity gas-based power plant in western Tripura's Monarchak.

NEEPCO was set up in 1976 to plan, design, construct, generate, operate and maintain power stations in the north-eastern region, comprising eight states including Sikkim.