President Pranab Mukherjee on Friday commissioned Palatala thermal power plant developed by ONGC and dedicated it to the North-East and the nation.
The 363.3 MW gas-based power plant was constructed in seven years and has been running on pilot basis since last year.
With this, the ONGC is entering the power sector in the country to monetise its gas resources which were idle for want of an industrial market.
Mukherjee inaugurated the first phase of the 726.6 MW project and thanked the Bangladesh government for help in transporting heavy machinery through the country to Tripura.
The President also added that both countries are trying to develop common grid,which would help in reducing power scarcity in the region.
The plant has been built at a cost of Rs 10,000 crore,including cost of evacuation of electricity to other states and transportation and developmental drilling.
The second phase of the power plant is expected to be ready by August this year. Union minister of state for petroleum and natural gas Veerapa Moily said that the plant would help make Tripura an energy surplus state while also contributing 90 per cent of its electricity to all the north- eastern states.
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