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| Saturday, 3 July 2004 |
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Engineers laud power plant decision The Institution of Engineers' Sri Lanka (IESL) welcomed the courageous decision of the Government to proceed with long overdue Coal and Hydro Power Plants. The IESL said: "We have repeatedly highlighted the need for immediate implementation of high capacity Coal plants to ensure that the future electricity supply of the country is stable and affordable. IESL has made repeated representations to various arms of the Government, from time to time, about the massive losses incurred by Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) owing to the delay in the implementation of these two vital Projects, which has pushed electricity prices to unreasonably high levels. "Now that the Government has decided to proceed with the Norochcholai Coal Power Plant and the Upper Kotmale Hydro Plant projects, the IESL emphasizes the need to expeditiously implement the projects and ensure that the Norochcholai is fully operational by 2012 and that its initial production is available by 2009 and that the Upper Kotmale Project is completed by 2009. Both these projects are years, if not decades, behind schedule causing untold hardship to the people of this country by way of blackouts and high electricity prices. The prevailing high electricity prices, apart from being an unbearable burden on all categories of consumers, is also driving away investors and acting as drag on the economy. "The timely implementation of these projects will contribute immensely towards attracting vital foreign investment reviving the economy and leading to considerable relief to all consumers. "IESL believes that all aspects of these projects have been gone into in detail and that what now remains is to put the various controversies behind and proceed with their expeditious implementation for the greater benefit of the consumers and the country. "The IESL reiterates its commitment to contribute and support the projects that it believes would benefit the country. |
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