Indian President Pranab Mukherjee has thanked Bangladesh for its support in making possible the first unit of 726-megawatt gas-based power plant at Palatana in India’s north-eastern state of Tripura.
Speaking at a function at Palatana, Mukherjee specially thanked the President, Prime Minister and Government of Bangladesh for their support in making the project possible, the Indian High Commission in Dhaka said in a media statement.
He called for increased cooperation between India and Bangladesh in power sector and said it was a much awaited and proud moment for all stakeholders.
To set up the power plant at Palatana about 50 kilometres to the south of capital Agartala, heavy machinery were brought from West India through Bangladesh.
Bangladesh provided India with the opportunity through transhipment system at Ashuganj and also let India use the Chittagong port.
The Tripura state government has been saying that it will provide Bangladesh with at least 100 megawatts of electricity from the power plant project. They are ready to provide more if the New Delhi wants so.
The President said that nature has bestowed Tripura with abundant natural gas. The power project by ONGC-Tripura Power Company in a land locked, logistically challenged and difficult terrain is an important feat, the statement said.
It would pave the way for effective utilisation of discovered gas.
Mukherjee expressed hope that this power plant would meet the requirements of power-deficient states in the region and open up avenues for industrialisation in Tripura.
The President pointed out that the power project not only constituted the largest investment in the North East but it was also the largest project in the world registered under the Clean Development Mechanism of the UNFCC.
The project would earn India over a million of carbon credits, officials said.
Carbon credit is a permit that allows the holder to emit one ton of carbon dioxide. Credits are awarded to countries or groups that have reduced their green house gases below their emission quota. Carbon credits can be traded in the international market at their current market price.
Source: Bd news24
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