March 22, 2002

'28'

THRID UNIT OF RANGANADI HYDRO ELECTRIC POWER PROJECT OPERATIONALIZED

    The third unit of 135 MW of the Ranganadi Hydroelectric Project in Arunachal Pradesh of the North Eastern Electric Power Company (NEEPCO) was successfully spun at 2350 hours yesterday. This unit is expected to be synchronised to the North Eastern Grid next week. The first two units of the Ranganadi HEP of 135 MW each had already beeen synchronised to the grid in January this year. The 405 MW Ranganadi Hydroelectric Project will thus have been commissioned in the 9^th Five Year Plan. With this, the NEEPCO will have commissioned its entire 9^th Plan target of 654 MW in the 9^th Five Year Plan. NEEPCO has already commissioned the Doyang HEP (75 MW) in Nagaland. Both the Ranganadi HEP and Doyang HEP have been executed with assistance from the North East Council. NEEPCO has also commissioned the Assam Gas Based Turbine Project (84 MW) in Tripura in the 9^th Five Year Plan.

    The Minister of Power Shri Suresh Prabhu has congratulated all the officers and employees of the NEEPCO on this commendable achievement. He had visited the Doyang HEP in Nagaland on March 2^nd this year and dedicated the project to the nation. He had also visited the Assam Gas Based Combined Cycle Project at Kathalguri also in March this year and declared it as a "Centre of Excellence" for its excellent all round performance. The Minister had also laid the foundation stone of the Tripura Combined Cycle Gas Based Project (500 MW) at Monorchak on March 1^st. This project will use indigenous gas from Tripura.