Andaman and Nicobar islands to get gas plant

What is the News?

The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change has approved gas-powered plants to be set up in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Background

In 2019, the Government of India notified the Island Coastal Zone Regulation(ICRZ).

It declared certain coastal stretches as ‘Coastal Regulation Zone’ and imposed restrictions on setting up and expanding industries, operations and processes within such protected zones.

However, in 2021 National Coastal Zone Management Authority(NCZMA) recommended amending the ICRZ rules to allow gas-based power plants within the Island Coastal Regulation Zone area only in islands with geographical areas greater than 100 sq. km.

This was needed to meet the energy requirement of the islanders while reducing the dependency on highly polluting sources such as conventional Diesel Generator(DG) sets.

Accepting these recommendations, the Government of India amended the ICRZ rules.

Where will the Gas Power Plant be located in Andaman?

A 50 MW Liquefied Natural Gas(LNG)-based power project will be commissioned at Hope Town, Port Blair. It will be a dual-fuel power plant—that runs on both diesel and LNG.

The plant will be developed by the National Thermal Power Corporation(NTPC).

Note: The development in Andaman is part of a Policy Push by NITI Aayog. As part of the plan, the Greater Andaman region or the southernmost stretch of islands is to be developed through projects like a trans-shipment port (TSP), parallel-to-the-coast mass rapid transport system, free trade zone and warehousing complex.

Source: The post is based on the article “Andaman and Nicobar Islands to get gas plant” published in The Hindu on 10th May 2022