AGARTALA, Jan 24 (TIWN): The ONGC is so far able to supply required gas to run both the units of Palatana OTPC and NEEPCO for uninterrupted generation of power in the state. Monarchak has been doing well as the ONGC is supplying gas as per the agreement but one unit of Palatana power project remains suspended due to shortage of adequate gas, according to the sources. However, ONGC is so far able to supply gas in full swing in order to operate the gas turbine of Monarchak and in the coming days with the development it will be able to gas to Palatana also to run the other unit of Palatana soon. The sources said that once the Sonamura GGS is ready to supply gas, the supply of gas to the power plant can be done without any interruption.Once the Sonamura GGS start providing all the facilities it will pump gas in full swing. It is to be mentioned here that currently, ONGC is supplying (.5) MMSCMD gas to Monarchak Power Plant through an alternative pipe line. Once the facilities of ONGC develop it will be able to pump on gas to both the unit of OTPC and Monarchak for commercial generation.

The Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), Tripura government and Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Service Limited (IL&FS) have jointly floated the ONGC-Tripura Power Company Limited (OTPC) to set up the combined cycle project. 

It is to be mentioned here that the NEEPCO project was almost suspended on different grounds; but the NEEPCO authority did not leave it.

ONGC owns significant quantities of natural gas reserves in Tripura. However, these reserves are not yet sufficiently commercially exploited due to the low industrial demand in the northeastern region.

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 northeastern region, comprising eight states including Sikkim.

The eight states have a population of 45.58 million and the peak hour demand of electricity is around 2,200 MW.

The northeast is going to be power surplus region if Monarchak continues to generate power in full swing with support from ONGC.