The government has given an
in-principle approval to state-run Oil & Natural Gas Corporation’s
(ONGC) proposal to offer 10% equity stake to Bangladesh in ONGC Tripura
Power Company and supply 250 mw electricity to the energy-deficient
neighbour. The move is expected to strengthen the Sheikh Hasina
government ahead of the crucial general elections in Bangladesh next
month.
Confirming the development, ONGC
chairman Sudhir Vasudeva told ET, “Our plant in Tripura could not run on
optimum capacity because of environment issues. But the new environment
minister is very dynamic and we expect him to remove hurdles
expeditiously.”ONGC can supply energy to the neighbouring country after meeting the
requirements of the northeast, a senior central government official with
direct knowledge of the matter said.
The 726.6 mw project is currently
producing just 180 mw because the company has been unable to lay
transmission lines between the Palatana plant and Bongaigaon to connect
to the national grid for want of green clearance. The second phase of
the project, which was expected to be commissioned by July this year,
has, therefore, been delayed until March 2014.
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