NEEPCO going for joint ventures, generation hike

Agartala, Jul 07, 2011 : The North Eastern Electrical Power Corporation (NEEPCO) is now planning joint ventures in the power sector with the state governments of Assam, Tripura and Meghalaya . Eyeing an increase of 5 thousand megawatt in generation at the end of 12th five year plan to its present installed capacity of 1130 megawatts, the NEEPCO authority have already initiated discussion with power ministers of the state government. Disclosing this in an interaction with the media new NEEPCO CMD Premchand Pankaj said that to achieve the targeted growth in production NEEPCO would require an allocation of Rs 25 thousand crore during the 12th five year plan period. 'We are looking for joint ventures because it will provide us access to resource bases of the state government and make it easy for us to complete existing projects as well as to launch new ones' said Pankaj . He said that he has already held discussions with the power ministers of Tripura, Assam and Meghalaya over joint ventures and all of them have evinced keen interest in the joint venture projects. 

Pankaj said that at present NEEPCO was implementing five projects that will yield 916 megawatts of power . These projects include Kameng Hydro-electric project in Arunachal Pradesh, Pare Hydro-electric project in Arunachal Pradesh, Tuirial Hydro-electirc project in Arunachal Pradesh , Tripura gas-based project at Monarchak and AGTP CC extension project in Tripura. 'Our target is to convert all open cycle thermal plants under our control into combined cycle projects ; besides we will be taking up soon four more projects in Assam, Meghalay and Mizoram' said Pankaj . Regarding the stalled 100 megawatt Monarchak thermal project in West Tripura Pankaj said that all clearances have been obtained and the ONGC have agreed to make available .5 million cubic metres of natural gas daily for the project. 'I will hold discussion with ONGC authority and if they assure us of steady supply of natural gas we will upgrade the Monarchak project to 200 megawatt' said Pankaj . He added that one more year would be required to have heavy turbines being built by Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) transported to Tripura. 'Actually Bangladesh government gave one-time permission to transit the turbines of ONGC's Palatana project through rivers across their territory , our turbines will have to come from Calcutta via river routes negotiating Ganga, Brahmaputra, Barak and Kushiara river routes that remain operational for a limited period of the year and will dock at Badarpur' said Pankaj. He added that NEEPCO would form a joint venture with Tripura State Electricity Corporation Limited for conversion of three open cycle thermal plants in Tripura into combined cycle. He expected the Monarchak porject to be commissioned by January 2013 at a cost of Rs 623 crores according to current prices. As a major sop to the state hosting the project NEEPCO have decided to recruit all category 'C' and 'D' employees for its projects here from among unemployed youths of Tripura.

On the issue of transmission lines Pankaj said that the northeast's transmission network was well connected with the national network and it is 'quite possible ' to supply power to southern states of the country from northeast. 'The power generated in Monarchak will come to a new grid at Sujyamoni Nagar on the southern outskirts of Agartala and then merged with the power grid corporation of India's network through high voltage direct current (HVDC) lines. Speaking on sale of Tripura's surplus power to Bangladesh Pankaj said that if Bangladesh government is keen on purchase arrangements can be made 'but the decision on this will have to be taken at higher level in union government'. 

Replying to a query on the contentious Tipaimukh power project Pankaj said that it was on and efforts would be made to have it installed soon. 'I have recently joined NEEPCO and I know there is opposition to this project but it will be highly beneficial; only 74 families will be displaced and all of them will be properly rehabilitated with compensation packages' said Pankaj , adding that efforts were being made to make the Tipaimukh project a joint venture in association with the state government of Manipur.