Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 28 January 2025
The power crisis in South Andaman is set to be resolved soon, as the Lt. Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands announced on Republic Day 2025 that a tender for the 50 MW LNG Gas Plant in Sri Vijaya Puram had been floated by NVVN, a government-owned public sector undertaking. This marks a significant step toward addressing the region’s long-standing power supply issues.
Nicobar Times discovered that the civil works tender for the Andaman and Nicobar Gas Power Project had indeed been issued. The submission deadline for bids is set for 4 February 2025, at 5:00 PM. According to the tender documents, the estimated cost of the civil works package is Rs. 86.19 Crore.
The bid opening date is scheduled for 5 February 2025, at 3:00 PM. NTPC Vidyut Vypaar Nigam Limited (NVVN) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC), and this project is expected to significantly improve the power supply situation in the region.
South Andaman has struggled with power shortages for an extended period, with residents and businesses alike suffering from unreliable electricity supply. For years, a permanent solution to the issue has been a pressing need.
In a bid to address these concerns, Member of Parliament (MP) for Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Mr. Bishnu Pada Ray, had earlier submitted a letter to the Prime Minister, detailing the power supply issues faced by the Islands. The MP highlighted the underperformance of the grid-connected solar power projects in Sri Vijaya Puram as a contributing factor to the ongoing power crisis. Despite these setbacks, proposals for additional grid-linked solar projects were still under consideration, an issue that Mr. Ray flagged it as problematic in his letter.
Additionally, Mr. Ray reminded the Prime Minister of his 2018 announcement to set up a 50 MW RLNG-based power plant to meet the Islands’ energy needs. The project, however, was stalled without clear justification, further exacerbating the power challenges faced by the region. In a December 2024 press release, the MP confirmed that he had urged the Prime Minister to intervene and expedite the RLNG project, leading to a positive outcome. Following this, the Prime Minister directed the Power Minister to re-initiate the approval process, culminating in the green light for the RLNG project. This was confirmed by Mr. Shripad Naik, Hon’ble Minister of State for Power, New & Renewable Energy, in a communication to the MP on 26 November 2024.
The civil works tender for Andaman & Nicobar Gas Power Project is a crucial step in bringing this long-awaited energy solution to fruition, and the completion of the 50 MW LNG Gas Plant promises to significantly alleviate the power woes of South Andaman.