Tripura to emerge as the biggest on-land gas producer: ED

"Now 18 lakh cubic meter gas (1.83 MMSCMD) is produced daily from the operational wells in Tripura. We have fixed a target of producing 50 lakh cubic meter natural gas (5 MMSCMD) per day by 2014," Executive Director, Tripura Asset K Satyanarayana said.

Satyanarayana said 15 wells have been drilled across the state and there are plans to drill 15 more wells during 2012-13.

"We are confident of achieving the target in the field of exploration by introducing modern technology," he said adding that the rig transportation and rig building time have been significantly reduced from 25 days to 15 days.

He said the 726 MW gas based thermal power project at Palatana in Gomati district would start producing power by this year which was set up by ONGC Tripura Power Corporation (OTPC) and 2.6 MMSCMD gas per day would be supplied to the project.

Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, laid the foundation stone for the project at Palatana, 60 km from Agartala in 2005.

Four north eastern states - Assam, Mizoram, Meghalaya and Manipur - will buy power from the power plant and the Northeast Power Trading Company has already started erecting transmission line from Palatana to Bongaigaon in Assam, ONGC officials said.

ONGC officials said, when OTPC is investing Rs 3,500 crore in generation, Rs 1,800 crore was being invested for transmission of power.