ONGC takes up exploration for Palatan power project

Agartala, Dec 7 (UNI) Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has floated a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) for implementation of 740 MW gas based thermal power project at Palatana in Tripura's south district.

The construction works for this Palatan project was expected to take up shortly and to be completed by 2008-2009, according to ONGC Tripura Asset Manager R K Mariya. He added that for this purpose, massive exploration drive had been taken up to feed necessary gas to the upcoming project.

The ONGC had so far explored 11 of the 19 structures in the state, Mr Mariya said, adding that seven gas fields were discovered of which four wells were presently under exploration.

Drilling will be undertaken as soon as possible in 60 exploratory and 14 development wells including in the vicinity of the Agartala Airport and Tulamura under Udaipur sub-division of south district.

Exploration experts from different parts of the country will come here in January next year to hold a high level discussions regarding the exploration drive, the Asset Manager informed.

ONGC holds the majority stake in the Palatana project (50.5 per cent) while IL&FS holds 26 per cent stake.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had laid the foundation stone of the project in October last year.

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