Dibrugarh, Oct. 20: North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Limited (Neepco) is holding talks with Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) for assured gas supply for its 291MW Kathalguri power project in Dibrugarh district of Assam.

H.K. Changmai, general manager, project head of Neepco's Assam gas-based power project at Bokuloni, Dibrugarh, said they were engaged in talks with GAIL as Neepco's supply of gas from Oil India Ltd had dwindled in the past few months from 1.4 million metric standard cubic metre per day to .7 MMSCMD. "An alternative is required, hence Neepco is holding discussions with GAIL."

Changmai said there was a shortfall of 2,700MW of power in the Northeast during peak hours, of which Assam's requirement was 1,500MW.

The Kameng and Pare hydroelectric projects in Arunachal Pradesh, once commissioned, would produce 600MW and 110 MW respectively. Tuirial hydroelectric project in Mizoram will produce 60MW. All three projects will be completed in 2017. Neepco is also planning Mawphu hydroelectric project-II (85MW) in Meghalaya.

Neepco has eight power stations in the Northeast which generate 1,257MW of power. The biggest plant commissioned by Neepco so far is 405MW Ranganadi hydroelectric project in Arunachal Pradesh. The other projects which have been commissioned are Doyang hydroelectric plant (75MW) in Nagaland, Agartala gas turbine power plant (135MW), Tripura gas-based power project (101MW) and a solar PV power project (5 MW) in Tripura. Changmai said Neepco provides almost 40 per cent of the region's energy requirement.