Agartala: NE gas grid to boost economy, spruce up growth in region

Tarun Malik, Asset Manager (AM) of ONGC Tripura Asset, a Maharatna Company, in an exclusive interview with Business-Northeast details out ONGC Asset’s exploration plans in Tripura.

One of the most brilliant technocrats of the Maharatna Company, Malik carries with him a vast experience in drilling operations, including Deep Water operations. He shared his views with Business-Northeast (BNE) on what is the status of the 1,656 km long natural gas pipeline grid in the North East that will connect major cities of the region through a pipeline network. It promises to accelerate the industrial growth of the North East.

BNE: ONGC Asset’s vision for Tripura on the gas exploration?
Tarun Malik: ONGC already has a lot of acreage for exploration in Tripura. We are hoping to explore more and more areas. Tripura has very typical kind of geological formations. Unlike other places, like Bombay High, Gujarat once you find oil and gas then you get many development wells with large reservoir. But here we get what we call fold belts. Very small fields are here. For that reason we need to continuously find new wells. Already, we have got four new blocks which have been awarded to us on which work will start soon. So far, our operations were limited to only Western and Southern parts of Tripura, now we are setting up one more installation in North Tripura near Panisagar. Work is awarded.

BNE: What is the current potential of gas production per day of ONGC Asset in Tripura?
Tarun Malik: We have got a potential of 5.1 million cubic per day… maintaining that itself is a big challenge. We have got enough resources to maintain this level for next four to five years. We are bringing in new imaging and seismic technologies, and depending on results of new technologies we plan to find new areas. In exploration business, there is no guarantee of success. If we are lucky if we get good finds we can reach a level of 6-7 million cubic per day.

BNE: What is the status of implementation of Natural Pipeline Gas Grid in North East?
Tarun Malik: Work has started all over the North East. In Tripura line is coming from Silchar. Some local issues were going on. The 1,665 km Natural Pipeline Gas Grid in North East implemented by Indradhanush Gas Grid Limited- a joint venture of IOCL, ONGC, GAIL , OIL and NRL will be operational by 2024. The grid will connect all the major cities of the region with a pipeline network.

BNE: What kind of changes it will bring in when Natural Pipeline Gas Grid in North East becomes a reality?
Tarun Malik: It will completely change the scenario the way natural gas is supplied through the region. Once the pipeline network is built, industries can directly link to it and get gas. More and more industries can avail of gas through this grid. It will boost the overall financial condition of the state. Industries will have easy availability of gas which is a cleaner fuel.
On the other hand, spare gas from the region could be sold outside; in similar way we can also import gas through this network. Overall, it will boost the industrial growth of the region as availability of gas will increase.

BNE: Tripura being a border state is there any security concerns for ONGC Asset installations?
Tarun Malik: In early 2000, there were issues of security in Tripura as well as in other North Eastern states due to some fringe groups. At present, there are no such threats. There is no theft or pilferage of our gas. ONGC has a full battalion of Tripura State Rifles to safeguard its installations. Moreover, periodically we review our whole security apparatus with police and other agencies.

BNE: Can you share your Corporate Social Responsibility activities and which areas you are focusing on?
Tarun Malik: On an average we spend Rs 10 crore on CSR works in Tripura. During Corona period it came down a bit. We are focusing mainly on skilling and fund many such activities. We have built market sheds in different places, giving yarn to artisans for making their product.
One of our big tickets which we will be doing on the request of the government of Tripura. We will be supplying cooking utensils to more than 3000 schools in the state for mid day meal scheme. Besides, these we have also provided water ATMs to various offices.

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