AGARTALA, Nov 25 (TIWN): After passing 6 months in deadly condition, the Monarchak plant has started a fresh journey from this morning, the project head of Monarchak S R Biswas confirmed. Talking to TIWN Biswas mentioned, ‘On today early morning the plant had begun as ONGC has started to supply gas’. Asking about the smoothness of the plant’s running he mentioned, 'hopefully the plant will run from now smoothly, till ONGC keeps on supplying gas'. This is one of the major plants in Tripura which effects a lot on the power surplus of the state, which was closed since 6 months. Reportedly, a lifeless situation had occupied here at Monarchak, which is located in Sepahijala District.

The project which runs on Combined Cycle Mode and consists of one Gas Turbines of 65.42 MW & one Steam Turbine of 35.58 MW each of BHEL supplied operating on natural gas obtained from the gas fields of M/S ONGC, is under the observation of project head S R Biswas. But since 5 / 6 months the project was lying dead as ONGC has failed to provide gas to the plant but there was no chance of quick recovery of the plant. 

TIWN talked to the Power Minister Manik Dey, TSECL MD S R Biswas, nobody could clearly confirm anything. However, the Monarchak has finally been started from Friday, ending the ongoing power crisis in state.

Media earlier reported that NEEPCO had been facing a loss of Rs 44 lakh per day due to the delay of gas by ONGC to the Rs 1000-crore state-run combined cycle power plant at Monarchak, Tripura. With this, Tripura is now 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. 

Earlier, during an interview S R Biswas told TIWN “Monarchak there are two Projects : one is a gas based power Plant while the other is solar power plant. The technology in these two plants are quite different and diverse. So we have to maintain a busy schedule in coordinating different types of activities”.  He also said, “It’s possible to make Tripura a load-shedding free state, as power plants have already started generating enough power. There are five gas based power plants in the State. The plants have indeed made Tripura self sufficient in so far as power is concerned”.