Phase II and III of Norochcholai coal power plant:
CEB and CMEC sign agreement
Charumini de Silva
The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) signed an agreement yesterday with
the China National Machinery and Equipment Import and Export Corporation
(CMEC) for phase II and III of the Norochcholai coal power plant.
The total capacity of the power plant will be 900 MW. Phase II and
III of the coal power plant will generate 300 megawatts of electricity
in each phase. Phase I is still under construction. The total investment
of phase II and III is US$ 891 million. The Norochcholai coal power
plant is expected to be completed by 2013, a spokesman for the CEB told
Daily News Business.
The contract was awarded to CMEC, a Chinese Government owned company.
The 900 MW plant will be constructed under the Puttalam coal power plant
at Norochcholai in the Puttalam district. The main objective of the
project is to cater to the increasing demand for electricity and also to
supply steady and low cost electricity to the national grid. With the
completion of the Norochcholai coal plant the Rs.11 per unit will be
reduced to Rs.5 per unit.
Due to the rapid growth in several industries and the accelerated
efforts in electrification the growth in a particular year may increase.
The demand and supply gap needs to be filled accordingly. The CEB
said the growth of electricity demand will increase by 10 percent
annually.
The Norochcholai coal power plant is a lead project of the Government
to enhance economic growth, poverty reduction and ensure balanced
regional development through the cost effective power sector
development.
Compared to hydro and thermal power generating sources, coal is the
most economical and feasible power supply. As hydro dependability is
threatened by drought and silt and thermal is an expensive source, coal
is cheaper and more widely available.
The successful completion of the project will enhance the capacity of
the national grid in Sri Lanka. |