AGARTALA, April 20 - Manarchak power plant in Sonamura subdivision of Tripura would be formally inaugurated by Union Power Minister Piyush Goyal, according to sources.
Goyal is scheduled to arrive here on May 29. However, formal confirmation from Delhi is yet to be received by the State Government. State Power Minister Manik Dey had sent a letter to the Union Minister inviting him to inaugurate the 101 MW gas-based combined cycle power plant.
At one point of time, the power plant was sinking due to severe shortage of gas but the State Government stood by NEEPCO. Presently, the Gas Turbine is producing 66 MW power while Steam turbine is producing 35 MW power.
Sources said, NEEPCO is supplying 101 MW power to Tripura State Electricity Corporation (TSECL) at a price of Rs. 3.90 per unit. An elaborate exercise has got underway to apply Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) for final rate of per unit electricity. The per unit cost of power will be a bit high at Manarchak as project has been swelled to Rs. 1007 crore due to long delay in operationalize the project, according sources. NEEPCO will have to accept cost of power to be fixed by CERC consideration all aspects.
Sources said of the total 101 MW power of Manarchak plant, 60 MW power is supplying to Bangladesh and remaining part is going to the Central share. Currently, Bangladesh is receiving 160 MW from TSECL.
