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| Wednesday, 5 February 2003 |
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from P. D. A. S. Gunasekera, Ratnapura group correspondent World Bank assistance is available for micro-hydro power and solar power projects in rural areas, inaccessible to the national grid, said senior energy specialist Malcolm Cosgrove Davies of the World Bank Energy sector unit. The World Bank's Energy Unit has offered financial assistance for viable micro-hydro and solar energy supply schemes in Sabaragamuwa rural sectors, out of the reach of the National Grid if they conformed to expected standard, he said in response to a question on the basis of the assistance granted by the 'unit' in Sabaragamuwa, at a conference-cum workshop in Lellopitiya. Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council officials, Engineering, advisory staff and 'developers' attached to the Micro-power schemes were also present. The World Bank team's visit is to make a feasibility study of the additional areas and the extent of projects, to decide on the financial grants needed for 2003, to bring the remote rural sector under 'Micro-power' line and to improve the quality of life of rural masses, he said. The difficulties and problems encountered by the 'project societies' during construction and the final production, supply and distribution were identified and resolved in the conference cum workshop afternoon session. Among the feasibility problem 'spotted' was the dangers of drying up of water sources feeding the proposed hydro schemes. This would be a major issue in the selection of the sites for the schemes, it was revealed. Participants pointed out that only a few projects, those started in the early stages of the schemes, had been completed. Other projects had been held up for various reasons, including delays in receiving funds, defects in the turbines, delay in the provision of the building material and the exhaustion of the allocations provided before completion. The team also explored the possibility of granting aid for solar-power projects, in areas out of the reach of both micro-projects and the National grid, provided such projects could be undertaken in sufficiently large numbers to be economically viable, assuring continuity of service to the consuming masses, at a commercial level. The Southern Provincial Council official who briefed the team said about 30 small scale micro projects have been successfully launched in Sabaragamuwa, with more projects in the saddle. No solar-power projects had been started on a scale fundable by the World Bank, the official said. An important consideration in the World Bank financing was the continuity of the project both during the construction, completion and the use, in the future. |
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