ONGC to triple gas production in Tripura in 3 yrs

Agartala, Mar 06: The Oil and Natural Gas Corporation limited (ONGC) has decided to triple gas production to 4.5 million cubic metres daily in the next three years in Tripura to facilitate the 750 MW HRSG co-generation power plant and the growth of small-scale industries in the state.

'' With this view we have decided to set up at least three gas collection centre at Trishna, Gajalia and Sonamura, lay of flow lines to connect all the gas wells and trunk pipe line to ferry the gas to the power plant and small scale industries,'' Mr Gulab Singh, General Manager (production) of ONGC, said.

The ONGC has already decided to invest Rs 4,000 crores to set up a 750 MW power plant at Palatana in South Tripura. The gas-based power plant, the largest by any organisation in the North-East, expected to be operational by mid 2008. The foundation sto e for the power plant was laid by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on October 29 last year.

The ONGC also decided to further expansion of drilling sites and had already identify about 20 sites including Tulamura near Udaipur.

The ONGC had already drilled 115 wells in Tripura and found gas in 55 of those.

''The success of finding gas in 55 out of 115 wells is higher than the national average,'' Mr Gulab Singh said.

Official sources, however, indicated that the capacity of the Palatana power plant might be increased to 1100 MW in view of the availability of gas in the state.

Mr Singh said of the 4.5 million cubic metre gas available daily from 2008, 3 million cubic metre gas would be supplied to Palatana power plant, while the remaining 1.5 million cubic metre gas to the GAIL and the NEEPCO for domestic use and other power projects.

To a question, Mr Singh said the ONGC had been investing Rs 160 crore in Tripura per year. ''But our revenue earning is Rs 85 crore per year and we are incurring annual loss of Rs 75 crore,'' he said.

Mr Singh was however, optimistic that the ONGC would earn profits in Tripura once the Palatana ppower plant operational.

''We will earn net profits then and spend a considerable amount for the development of the rural areas of the state.'' Mr Singh said the ONGC had been taking all security measures, especially in the gas collection centres to avoid any accident and full utilisation of the available gas.

''We have signed a memorandum of understanding with the Tripura State Rifles to ensure the security of our installations and our personnel,'' he added.

UNI