Northeast Desk, 5th August: Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has ramped up its efforts to boost gas production in Tripura to address reduced supply issues affecting the state’s power generation plants. The move comes in response to recent reports highlighting a shortfall in gas supply to various plants.
For the fiscal year 2023-24, ONGC produced 1,527 million standard cubic metres (MMSCM) of gas in Tripura. The corporation aims to increase this output to 1,675 MMSCM in the 2024-25 fiscal year. Krishna Kumar, ONGC’s Tripura Asset Manager, stated, “ONGC is working diligently to ensure a stable gas supply to power plants in Tripura. We have set an ambitious target for this year and are committed to meeting it.”
As part of its strategy, ONGC plans to drill 20 new wells for gas exploration and will soon add another rig to its current fleet of six. Additionally, the corporation has initiated cluster drilling at existing well sites to enhance extraction efficiency. This approach allows ONGC to utilize pre-approved sites and avoid the complexities of new land acquisition due to rapid urbanization in Tripura.
Kumar noted that surplus gas supply can become problematic when a unit of the Palatana power plant shuts down, as other plants cannot absorb the excess gas, leading to potential losses for ONGC. Various state-run agencies operate the gas-based power plants in Tripura, contributing to the challenge of managing gas distribution effectively.
ONGC’s intensified efforts reflect its commitment to addressing supply challenges and supporting the state’s energy needs.
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