Delay in supply hits Tripura gas-based thermal power project

MONARCHAK (TRIPURA): North Eastern Electric Corporation Ltd ( NEEPCO) today said its 101 MW gas based thermal power project here may not be able to meet the target of generating power commercially by November due to delay in supply of fuel.

"We expect that by the end of September we will be ready for receiving natural gas to our system and start commissioning work which is expected to be completed in a time frame of two months.

"But we are observing very slow progress of work for supplying of gas to plant", Project General Manager, S R Biswas told a group of visiting reporters.

"Supply of gas is the responsibility of ONGC. We have been requesting ONGC to expedite their work since last one and half years but to no avail. As per agreement, gas was supposed to be made available since last March. In this situation we cannot announce when the commercial generation of power would be possible", he added.

The Rs 950 crore power project would incur a monthly loss of Rs. 2.5 crore if the plant is unable to start commercial generation by November this year, Biswas said.

Tripura government has taken up the matter with ONGC and the central government for expeditious supply of natural gas to the Monarchak plant, about 50 KM from the state capital, he said.

The plant would supply power only to Tripura.