Tripura Power Minister Ratan Lal Nath Discusses Power Challenges and Initiatives at Guwahati Conference
On Tuesday, Tripura’s State Power Minister Ratan Lal Nath attended the North Eastern Power Ministers Conference in Guwahati. The conference, which included Union Power Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, focused on improving Tripura’s power infrastructure.
Rising Gas Prices
Minister Nath highlighted the significant increase in gas prices for power generation, which rose from $2.90 per MMBTU to $6.50 per MMBTU since 2022. He urged the Union Ministry of Power and the Union Petroleum Ministry to take measures to reduce these costs.
Infrastructure Development
Minister Nath proposed several initiatives, including the construction of a 400 KV substation in Suryamaninagar and the establishment of a State of Art Training Centre in Tripura. He requested full funding for these projects from the Central Power Ministry and a special grant for Tripura and Nagaland.
Power System Development Fund
Minister Nath called for the reinstatement of the Power System Development Fund to support power sector advancements in the Northeastern states. The central group assured that they would analyze the matter.
Future Energy Needs
Minister Nath discussed the importance of establishing pumped storage by the National Hydro Power Corporation in Longtharai subdivision to enhance power generation capacity. He also mentioned the ongoing preparation of project reports for this initiative.
Tripura’s Power Landscape
Tripura has a peak demand of 360 MW and exports 90 MW to 160 MW of electricity to Bangladesh. With a per-capita consumption of 471 kWh, the state serves mainly domestic consumers. Tripura has secured substantial financial assistance, including a Rs2275 Cr agreement with the Asian Development Bank for the Tripura Power Distribution Strengthening and Generation Efficiency Project.
National Schemes and Renewable Energy
Tripura has successfully implemented national schemes like DDUGJY, Saubhagya, and IPDS, achieving 100% electrification by November 2018. The state is also pursuing solar power projects under schemes like PM-Devine and PM-KUSUM.
Challenges and Optimism
Despite advancements, Minister Nath raised concerns over the recent spike in gas prices, affecting the cost of power generation. He urged the Ministry of Power to collaborate with the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas to reconsider gas pricing. Minister Nath expressed optimism in overcoming these challenges through continued collaboration with the central government.
