By Our Correspondent
Agartala: On the occasion of its foundation day, the oil giant- ONGC Tripura Asset on Tuesday promised to set up the proposed gas-based fertilizer manufacturing company at Khubal in Panisagar subdivision at the earliest.
“A team of Tata Consultancy Services Ltd, which has expertise on consultancy services, is on visit of Khoubal to explore feasibility of the fertilizer manufacturing factory” said ONGC Tripura Asset Manager VP Mahavir at a press conference here on Tuesday.
He said once the feasibility report is placed, the ONGC will move on with the follow-up action for the Rs. 5000 crore project.
The Tata Consultancy is supposed to submit its feasibility report by December this year.
The Chambal Fertilizer Company Ltd will execute the plan, as the per the MoU.
Informing that a meeting on the fertilizer manufacturing unit was discussed in a meeting with Chief Secretary SK Panda on Monday, Mahawar said unlike other projects this project would open job opportunities in the state.
On the Palatana’s gas-pipeline, he said, “It was a learning experience and embarrassing for ONGC. Now, the 53 km pipeline is cleared after carrying out pigging operation from June 13 to August 10”. Around 1300 kg black substance was extracted from the pipe-line and now the OBGC is contemplating Intelligence Pigging (IP) to check the entire ‘health’ of the pipeline.
Asserting that this kind of incident- gathering of black substance inside gas pipeline is a global phenomenon, Mahawar stated that the ONGC has already charged the pipeline and accordingly it was informed the OTPC authority.
Sources said, the OTPC is on the move to switch on the first unit of 726 MW power plant at Palatana. OTPC’s Managing Director SK Dubey is camping at Palatana to supervise the whole process.
On the future plan, Mahawar said the ONGC aims to produce 57 lakh cubic meter gas by 2014 as exploration drive has already been doubled to meet the future need.
On being asked about the gas supply to NEEPCO mulled Mancarchak power project, the ONGC Asset Manager said of the total 10 km gas pipeline, five km has already been laid while remaining portion would be done shortly.
However, he admitted land dispute is hindering the laying of gas pipeline upto Palatana.
To a query, Mahawar made it clear, “Seismic survey doesn’t indicate presence of oil on Tripura’s soil. However, we plan to undertake exploration of well upto 5000 meter deep in search of oil”. –