Power Finance Corporation, on Tuesday (02.02.10), signed an Agreement with ONGC Tripura Power Company Ltd. (OTPC) for financing their 2x363.3 MW gas based power project at Pallatana in Tripura. PFC will provide a term loan of Rs. 2223.8 crore for the project and with this, the project has achieved financial closure. OTPC is a joint venture between ONGC, IL&FS & Govt. of Tripura. The project will be commissioned in March 2012 at estimated cost of about Rs. 3400 crore. The EPC contract for implementation of the project was awarded to Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd. in August 2008. The project will source Natural gas from ONGC’s assets in Tripura and an agreement has been signed with ONGC in this regard. About 87% of the power generated will be sold to all the North Eastern states thereby benefitting the entire region.
The evacuation of power will be through a 656 km long 400 kV double circuit line from Pallatana to Bongaigaon in Assam to be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs. 1770 crore. This scheme will be implemented by North East Transmission Company Ltd. (NETC), an SPV jointly promoted by OTPC, Power Grid Corporation and all the North Eastern states. Financial closure of the transmission scheme was achieved on 15.09.09, with NETC signing a term loan agreement with PFC for Rs. 1416 crore.