Tripura power projects capacity to be augmented

The generation capacity of three power plants in Tripura will be augmented by 62 MW without increasing fuel consumption, an official said here Tuesday.

To boost the production capacity of two gas-based thermal power plants and one hydel power project, the North East Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO) in association with Tripura government would invest Rs.500 crore.

"The Rokhia and Baramura gas-based power plants are at present in the open cycle system. Both the power plants would be converted into the combined cycle mode to generate additional power without using extra fuel," NEEPCO Chairman-cum-Managing Director P.C. Pankaj told reporters.

"Currently, both the power plants are generating 105 MW of power and after conversion into the combined cycle mode, their total generation capacity would be 160 MW."

NEEPCO would also increase the capacity of Dambur hydel power plant in southern Tripura from 7.5 MW to 15 MW.

To implement the three projects within the next two years, NEEPCO Monday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Tripura government here.

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, Power Minister Manik Dey and top officials of both Tripura government and NEEPCO were present at the MoU signing programme.

The total cost of the three projects would be equally shared by the Tripura government and NEEPCO, which is also commissioning a 101-MW gas-based thermal power plant at Monarchak in western Tripura.