AGARTALA, August 4(TIWN): The work for up gradation of Konaban Gas Collection Site (GCS) is in full swing likely to be completed by end of September this year, said V. P. Mahawar Asset Manager of ONGC Tripura. Talking to TIWN today ONGC Asset Manager told that the present gas production capacity per day of Konaban GCS is 5 lakh cubic metres and after up gradation per day capacity will be 15 lakh cubic meter. “After the completion of up gradation ONGC will be ready to supply gas for Paltana II – unit from first week of October” he said. The first unit of the 726.6 MW gas-based power plants at Palatana near here has started generating electricity and the second 363.3 MW units is expected to commence operation by November next.

After commissioning of II – unit of Palatana power plant, Tripura will soon become India's first power surplus state as it would get state share of 196 MW from the ONGC Tripura Power Corporation (OTPC) at Palatana in addition to the 104 MW from the North East Electric Power Corporation's gas based thermal power project. Assam will get the maximum share of 240 MW, followed by Tripura (196 MW), Meghalaya (79 MW), Manipur (42 MW), Nagaland (27 MW), Mizoram (22 MW) and Arunachal Pradesh (22 MW).

Speaking about work progress of lying of pipelines for NEEPCO’s power plant at Manarchak, Mr. Mahawar told TIWN that here also work is in full swing it is likely to be completed by November next adding the speed of work was slowed down due to the monsoon now the work is speeding.

Initially, the NEEPCO had prepared DPR to set up a 500 MW gas-based power generation project at Monarchak way back in 2003. Later, the installed capacity was reduced to 280 MW and lastly it was reduced to only 101 MW after the ONGC failed to assure sufficient gas supply to NEEPCO. Due to delay in project implementation, the estimated cost of the project has increased from Rs 623.44 crore (Nov 2009) to Rs 949.86 crore (Dec 2013).