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Agartala, Nov 11 (IANS) To boost power generation amid shortage of natural gas, the Tripura government will introduce Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) technology at the Rukhiya power plant in Sipahijala district, increasing its generation capacity by 120 megawatt (MW). Power Minister Ratan Lal Nath said on Monday that the foundation stone laying ceremony and bhoomi pujan of the project will take place on November 26. Nath, who also holds the agriculture portfolio, said that despite the ongoing gas crisis, Tripura State Electricity Corporation Limited (TSECL) has initiated measures to ensure uninterrupted power supply to consumers by adopting modern and efficient technology at the Rukhiya Thermal Power Plant. Nath said, “In 2017-18, the actual installed capacity of the Rukhiya power plant was 63 MW, but only 40 MW was generated. The same level of generation continued in 2018-19 also. In 2019-20, despite the gas crisis, we managed to generate 56 MW of power. However, the plant had to be closed in 2022-23 due to pending environmental clearance.” He said the issue was resolved after he personally took up the matter with Union ministers and officials and secured necessary approvals. Highlighting the benefits of the new technology, Nath said, “With the combined cycle gas turbine system, we will be able to generate 120 MW of power using the same amount of gas. Although gas prices remain high in the international market, this technology will ensure higher efficiency.” The project is estimated to cost approximately Rs 1,119 crore (excluding GST). The Minister also underlined that since natural gas is a depleting resource, the State Government is also emphasizing on solar energy to diversify its energy base. Tripura, one of the power-surplus states in the northeastern region, is keen to supply power to Nepal. Energy Minister Nath had earlier said that work on a plan to export power from Tripura to Nepal was underway and a meeting was held in New Delhi recently, after which the central government will take the final decision. Although Tripura does not share a border with Nepal, the Himalayan nation shares a 1,751 km long border with five Indian states – Sikkim, West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Tripura, which shares an 856-km border with Bangladesh, is currently supplying more than 100 MW of power to the neighboring country. Tripura started supplying 100 MW of power to Bangladesh from the state-owned ONGC Tripura Power Company (OTPC) power plant in Gomati district of southern Tripura in March 2016. An official of Tripura State Electricity Corporation Limited (TSECL) said the power supply to Bangladesh sometimes goes up to 160 MW. –IANS SC/UK