Transportation Issues Likely To Affect ONGC Tripura Power Project

Kolkata: Transportation of plant and machinery will hold the key for implementation of ONGC''s proposed 2X370 MW gas-based power station in Tripura. The issue may also affect the final cost of the ONGC Tripura power project. In November, ONGC had got bids only from BHEL and Alstom for the EPC contract. The company has aimed award of bids in April. Faced with physical constraints in moving the heavy power equipment via land and waterways within the national boundaries, the energy major has now planned to move the equipment via Bangladesh, which is easier, said than done. Though there is a transit treaty between the two nations, the route preferred by ONGC does not fall under the agreed pact, thereby, requiring special approvals from the Bangladesh Government and fresh negotiations between the nations. Each module of the 2X370 MW power station would weigh 280 tonnes.