India Advances First LNG Power Plant in Andaman Islands

The Government of India is accelerating the development of its inaugural liquefied natural gas (LNG)‑based power plant on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) will supply regasified LNG to a 55 MW facility being built by NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam Limited (NVVN) at Hope Town, Sri Vijaya Puram (formerly Port Blair). The plant, which received environmental clearance from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in September 2022, is part of a broader strategy to replace diesel‑powered generation on the islands with cleaner energy.

The Andaman and Nicobar Pollution Control Committee has opened a comment period on the project's Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) and Environment Management Plan (EMP) concerning LNG transportation. Small LNG tankers will deliver gas to a floating storage and re‑gasification unit (FSRU), from which the fuel will be piped to the plant. The project is classified as a Category ‘A’ EIA item and will be appraised by the central‑level Expert Appraisal Committee.