The Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) on the Dabhol power project chaired by defence minister Pranab Mukerjee today reviewed the progress made on restarting the venture. The EGoM was told that the plant would start functioning by May this year.The EGoM was given a presentation on the timelines for award of contracts and the progress made in securing liquefied natural gas (LNG) for the 2184 MW venture. Sources said apart from opening all diplomatic channels, even the PMO is now directly involved in securing the gas supplies for the project as they do not want to land up in a situation of first starting the plant on naphtha and then having to shut it down on account of lack of availability of gas.Ratnagiri Gas and Power, a joint venture between NTPC and GAIL that is operating the venture, would be using the residual naphtha of around 34,000 kl left behind by Enron to restart the plant. As the cost of this naphtha has already been written down, the resultant tariff from the plant would not have a significant impact on Maharashtra.The strategy is to run the plant for around three hours a day to meet the peak load requirements of the state.
