Tripura faces losses due to lack of power transmission network

Tripura, a power surplus state, is now facing a tough time to sell its power and incurring loss in the absence of power transmission network, power minister Manik Dey said today.
"After the successful commercial generation of the first unit of ONGC's gas-fired thermal power project at Palatana in Gomati district recently Tripura became a power surplus state.
"But we are not able to sell the surplus power to the power starved states of the country due to lack of power transmission network and incurring heavy loss every day," Dey told reporters.
He said, the second unit of the 726 MW Palatana power project is suppose to start power generation by June next and the state would face more problems in selling power unless the power transmission network could be built to connect with the national grid.

Tripura's own generation in peak hour is about 110 MW and receives additional 40 MW from North-East grid and with the addition of 90 to 95 MW from Palatana project, the state's total surplus is about 95 MW.
The state's transmission line was drawn up to Barnihat in Meghalaya by which it could be connected with the North-East grid, but it needs to be drawn up to Bongaigaon for connecting with the national grid.

After the generation of power from the second unit of Palatana, Tripura would get 196 MW which would almost remain surplus, a power department official said adding another 96 MW gas based power project at Monarchak in Sipahijala district is likely to be operational this year and then Tripura would incur huge loss if it cannot sell its power.

Managing Director of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation - Tripura Power Company (OTPC) S K Dubey recently expressed apprehension that transmission of the full load of power from his project would be a problem if the plant could not be connected to the national power grid at Bongaigaon.
"A total of 660 km long transmission line from the plant to Burnihat in Meghalaya through Silchar in Assam was completed by which power from the first unit could be catered to other states of the north-east. But the work for the 400 KV double circuit high tension line up to Bongaigaon from Burnihat is pending due to forest clearance," he said.

Dubey said Palatana power project is the most sought- after gas plant in the country as it can generate one unit of power at only Rs 3.
From Palatana project, Assam will get the maximum share of 240 MW, followed by Tripura (196 MW), Meghalaya (79 MW), Manipur (42 MW), Nagaland (27 MW), Mizoram (22 MW) and Arunachal Pradesh (22 MW).