Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has stepped up efforts to increase gas production in Tripura to support power generation plants in the northeastern state, according to an official on Monday. This decision follows reports of a reduction in gas supply to various gas-based power generation plants in the region. ONGC had produced 1,527 million standard cubic metres (MMSCM) of gas in Tripura during the 2023-24 fiscal year and has set a target of extracting 1,675 MMSCM of gas for the current fiscal year. ONGC?s Tripura Asset Manager, Krishna Kumar, explained that the company is working to boost gas production to ensure a sufficient supply to the gas-based power plants in Tripura. He noted that ONGC aims to extract 1,675 MMSCM of gas during the 2024-25 fiscal year, up from 1,527 MMSCM in 2023-24. Kumar added that ONGC plans to drill 20 new wells for gas exploration in the 2024-25 financial year and will soon add an additional rig to enhance the exploration efforts. Currently, ONGC is using six rigs for natural gas exploration in the state. In addition to new exploration, ONGC has started cluster drilling using old well sites for gas extraction. Kumar explained that cluster drilling is being prioritised due to the rapid urbanisation in Tripura, as existing wells already have the necessary facilities and approvals for exploration. This approach avoids the need for new land acquisition and additional state approvals, which can be costly. Kumar also highlighted the issue of gas utilisation, noting that if one of the units at the Palatana power plant shuts down, it results in a surplus of gas. This surplus can be problematic because other plants in the state do not have the capacity to handle the excess gas, leading to losses for ONGC.