Norochcholai Coal Power Plant :

Ministry seals final deal with China

The Power and Energy Ministry will sign a final agreement with the People's Republic of China before the end of this month for the construction work of the Norochcholai coal power plant, said Minister W. D. J. Seneviratne.

Addressing his ministry staff after opening the Ministry's new office in Colombo, the Minister said work on the Norochcholai and Upper Kotmale Power Plants had to be launched before the end of this year if the country was to avert a future energy crisis.

"The country's economic development depends on its electricity generation capacity. It would be futile to talk about economic development if the country could not provide cheap electricity to every citizen," he said.

Investors will flow in to start industries and there will be an upsurge of new local industries when electricity is available at cheaper rates. The power supply should be extended to all parts of the country to make electricity available at cheap rates, the Minister said.

"People should support the Government when it endeavours to launch national projects of this nature," Seneviratne said.

He said steps would also be taken to build coal power plants at Trincomalee and Hambantota and accelerate work on the Kerawalapitiya and Ginganga electricity projects.

He said important policy decisions have also been taken to transform the CEB into an efficient public service institution.