Natural Gas is the highest revenue earning natural resource for the state of Tripura. It is available in non-associate form with high methane content above 95%. This natural resource is serving as the backbone for surplus power generation and pollution free Transportation System in the State.
By leveraging and harnessing locally available natural gas, the TSECL and OTPC (Ministry of Power Circular order dated November 25, 2008) have a power sale agreement to supply power to Bangladesh and all the North Easter states. The Govt. has prioritized the City Gas Distribution (CGD) entities for domestic gas allocation and CNG for transportation Sector and is being met through domestic gas.
Exploration and Production:
There are 30 Exploration & Production Blocks allocated by Govt. of India through various bidding regimes. The ONGC is the oldest Operator undertaking Operation in 23 Blocks (18 Production Blocks & 5 Exploration Blocks). The GAIL- Jubilant JV is operator for 1 Production Block and 1 Exploration Block. In addition, Vedanta Ltd was allocated 1 Exploration Block and Oil India Ltd was allocated 3 Exploration and 1 Production Blocks. The current production by ONGC is 4.9 approximately.
Utilization:
The produced natural gas is mostly utilised as fuel for Power Generation. The consumers are OTPC (50.37%) NEEPCO-RC Nagar (15.53%) NEEPCO-Moinarchak (10.45%), TPGL-ROK (13.85%), TPGL-BRM (6.82%) and TNGCL (2.96%) for CGD.
Royalty and other Receipts from Natural Gas:
The ONGC pays Royalty to the State Government @10% of the value at well-head, i.e., the Producer Price. In addition, the State Govt. gets revenue in the form of License / Lease Fees on PEL/ PML, Dead Rent and Surface Rent in accordance with the MoPNG Rule 1959.
Status of City Gas Distribution Network:
Tripura Natural Gas Company Limited and NEGDCL are engaged in supply of Piped Natural Gas (PNG) to domestic, commercial and industrial consumers and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) for Vehicles.
Presently PNGRB has allotted 3 authorized GA (Geographical Area) to TNGCL and 2 authorized GA to NEGDCL for CGD network. These are namely Agartala GA, West Tripura GA and Gomati GA, South Tripura and North Tripura GA.
As on March 2024 total 21710 nos. of CNG Vehicles are running on road which are supported by 04 CNG Mother Stations and 18 CNG Daughter Stations setup by. and there were total 60661 domestic connection is Agartala Ga and 59131 in Gomati and West Tripura GA, 512 commercial and 48 industrial consumers, CNG vehicle 39932. The TNGCL supplies gas to industrial consumers in Bodhjung nagar Industrial Complex. The Company is currently operating 04 CNG Mother Stations and 18 CNG Daughter Stations and 7 CNG Stations are under process which are expected to start soon.
