Govt. to expedite Norochcholai

Nimal WIJESINGHE, Anuradhapura additional district correspondent

The Government is exploring the possibility of accelerating the Noro chcholai coal power project that will add another 300 mega watts to the national grid, sources said.

The contract was signed by the CEB and the National Machinery Export Corporation of China in March 2006.

The EXIM Bank of China has loaned US $ 455 million for the project which is due to be commissioned in 2012. Meanwhile, the contractor recently submitted the preliminary design drawings to the CEB for perusal. It is reported that the CEB is reviewing the designs.

The Power and Energy Ministry of Switzerland is the consultant to the CEB vis-a-vis the project.

Electricity supply to the power plant site has been completed with the construction of a 1.73 Km 32 kv line and a 160 KVA transformer.

The extension of the low voltage lines near the power plant site and the new resettlement housing project have also been completed with the construction of the 3.2 KV line, 160 KVA transformer and 1.83 KM L.V. line.

Meanwhile, the Road Development Authority (RD.A) is renovating and restructuring the road network leading to the local power project.

The first one kilometer of the Palaviya-Kalpitiya road has been renovated and the RD A is calling for tenders to renovate the balance five kilometers.