ONGC today started releasing natural gas to the ONGC-Tripura Power Corporation (OTPC, paving the way for generation of power by a 726.6-MW gas-based power project at Palatana in Gomati district, official sources said.
The gas started flowing through a 60 km-long pipe connected to the power project at Palatana, 60 km from here.
The first unit of the power project was likely to start generation by August, the officials said.
The ONGC, major partner of the OTPC power project, would supply natural gas extracted from Tripura.
The sources said 2.6 million standard cubic metre of gas per day would be required when the power project begins full scale generation.
It would take a few months more to make it fully operational, the sources said.
K Satyanarayana, ONGC manager, Tripura Asset, inaugurated the gas release programme at a Gas Gathering station GGS) at Gabardi here.
The 726.6 MW gas-based power project at Palatana, one of the most prestigious ventures in the north-east, would cater to the needs of power-deficit areas of region.
The project, to be set up with an investment of Rs 9,000 crore, is the highest-ever in the state of Tripura.
The project, upon full implementation, shall make the state power surplus and enable it to earn revenue by selling to other states,the sources said.
Assam, Mizoram, Meghalaya and Manipur will buy power from Palatana power plant.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had laid the foundation stone for the project in Agartala in 2005.
