NEEPCO to sell power to Bangla from proposed Tripura project

AGARTALA, July 22: The Northeastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO) will sell power to Bangladesh from its proposed 500-MW giant thermal power project, to be set up at Santi Nagar in West Tripura, reports UNI. NEEPCO's technical director Sunil Baran Dey told newsmen here on Saturday that the surplus 300 MW power would be sold to Bangladesh, which had been facing a severe power crisis. Remaining 200 MW would be given to Tripura and National Power Grid, Dey said, adding, the Central Electricity Authority would soon submit its report for this proposed project, to be set up at a cost of Rs 2000 crore. The state government had provided the required land for the project, which would also meet the state's severe power crisis. Natural gas and water would be used for the project, first of its kind in the north-eastern region, Dey said. State Power Minister Badal Chowdhury said the state government had no objection, if the NEEPCO sold the surplus power to Bangladesh. Chowdhury said two thermal power projects, each of 21 MW capacity, would be set up in Tripura soon. The Centre's Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC) had endorsed a 21-MW project for Baramura in West Tripura. Now the Union Cabinet had to ratify the endorsement. The Minister said the proposed Rs 95-crore project would be financed by the Northeastern Council (NEC). Chowdhury said works had already started for another 21-MW-capacity thermal power project at Rokhia, also in West Tripura. The cost of the project would be met from the non-lapsable fund for the north-eastern region. During peak hours, Tripura needs about 135 MW of power. But from its own and Central sources, the state is getting around 95 MW of power. To cover the shortfall, an average of one-and-a-half-hour to two-hour loadshedding is effected everyday in the evening.