West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd is planning to set up a 250-mw gas based power plant in the Durgapur region of the state. It has requested the petroleum ministry to arrange for coal bed methane (CBM) gas for the proposed power project. The utility expressed eagerness to set up a power plant of about 250 mw capacity by utilizing CBM gas as fuel in order to cater for growing demand of power in the state.
In a letter to the ministry, the power utility stated said that this has become urgent in view of scarcity of coal to meet up the need of thermal based power stations and devoid of adequate hydro power potential and other reliable sources of energy to bridge up the gap. The utility highlighted that the Central government has allotted some CBM blocks in Raniganj-Durgapur area of West Bengal to different stakeholders for exploration of gas.
WBSEDCL has already started negotiations with CBM producers in Durgapur area, namely Great Eastern Energy Corporation and Essar Energy, for the supply of gas. With no success so far, the power utility stated that involvement of the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, being the regulatory authority in the field, would stand in good stead for ensuring gas supply. |