AGARTALA, Feb 20 � The Tripura Government has requested the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (PNG) to intensify exploration drive for natural gas in the State, the Assembly was informed here on Friday.
While replying to a notice, State Industries and Commerce Minister Tapan Chakraborty confirmed that the State Government has already inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with ONGC Ltd and Chambal Fertiliser & Chemicals Ltd to establish a fertiliser manufacturing company at Khoubal area of Unakoti district.
The ONGCL had engaged Tata Consulting Engineers as consultant to carry out a pre-feasibility report for the proposed fertiliser manufacturing factory, he said, adding that it has already submitted a report identifying suitable sites, quantity of land, supply of water and connectivity.
�The ONGCL has informed the State Government it has planed to supply natural gas, main raw material for fertiliser manufacturing factory from Khoubal area where it has already struck gas�, he said.
Chakraborty said the ONGCL has already chalked out a plan for 2015-16 FY and 2016-17 FY to assess the actual gas reserve at Khoubal and its adjacent areas. �We are keeping in touch with the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas to get exploration drive enhanced in the State�, he added.
Around 10/12 pools of natural gas were found at Khoubal in Unakoti district but the actual stock of hydrocarbon would be known only after completion of three or four more wells there, according to sources in the ONGCL.
Altogether three wells have been explored while one well is under progress at Khoubal and the initial indications are not so satisfactory. The proposed urea fertiliser manufacturing factory would require 2.4 MMSCMD gas per day to produce 1.4 MT fertiliser, according to a study conducted by TCE.
