By Firstdespatch Desk Jul 10, 2024
Agartala, Jul 10 (FD) Tripura's State Power Minister Ratan Lal Nath expressed concern over the significant rise in gas prices for power generation and asked the centre to consider measures to reduce gas prices.
Participating at the North Eastern Power Ministers Conference held in Guwahati in presence Union Power Minister Manohar Lal Khattar in Guwahati. Nath said, that costs had escalated from $2.90 per MMBTU to the current rate of $6.50 per MMBTU since 2022, which had impacted increases on the state's electricity production costs, a press statement issued by the state government said here.
He urged the Union Ministry of Power and the Union Petroleum Ministry to consider measures to reduce gas prices.
Nath outlined several infrastructure development initiatives for Tripura, including the construction of a 400 KV substation in Suryamaninagar and requested full funding for this project from the Central Power Ministry.
He also appealed for central support in meeting for Tripura's intra-state transmission requirements until 2030, estimated at1000 crore and proposed reinstatement of the Power System Development Fund to boost power sector advancements.
Highlighting the challenge of gas supply shortages from ONGC’s Tripura fields, Nath emphasised the impact on the state’s predominantly gas-based power generation units.
“This is affecting the state-owned gas-based power plants and necessitating additional power purchases from the exchange market. The situation has posed financial challenges for the state’s power utility body,” it said.
Advocating for comprehensive support from the central government to ensure sustainable and affordable electricity services, Nath proposed reinstating the Power System Development Fund to strengthen advancements in the power sector.
He also highlighted Tripura’s proactive pursuit of solar power projects under initiatives like PM-DevINE and PM-KUSUM.
These efforts include installations such as micro-grid solar power plants, solar street lighting systems, and rooftop solar panels on government buildings across the state.
Nath further mentioned significant financial assistance secured, including a Rs 2,275 crore agreement with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), aimed at bolstering Tripura’s power sector.
“Initiatives like the Revamped reformed based Result-linked Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) and PM-JANMAN aim to enhance operational efficiency and provide electricity connections to Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG) households, notably the Reang community,” it quoted the minister as saying. FD JK