Indo-Sri Lanka electricity interconnection project:

India to supply 500 MW power

Chaminda Perera

A high profile Indian delegation is due in Sri Lanka at the end of this month to strike the historic deal to begin the construction of Indo-Sri Lanka Electricity Interconnection project. Under this project the country will receive electricity of 500 mega watts (MW) initially.

Sri Lanka through this agreement, expects to add 1,000 mega watts to the National Grid to meet the demand for electricity with the liberation of the Northern Province from the clutches of terrorism.

All State agencies under the Power and Energy Ministry are busy upgrading electricity supplies in Killinochchi, Mullaitivu and Mannar districts over which the LTTE terrorists had de facto control for more than 20 years.

The USAID funded feasibility study of this project has already been completed and the construction of this project which is aimed at reducing the expensive thermal power generation will begin next year.

The project is expected to be commissioned within four years. Overhead power lines will also be erected from Madurai to Talaimannar coast and from Puttalam to Anuradhapura under this project which is estimated to cost Rs. 4.5 billion. Submarine cables will be laid under the sea from the Rameshwaram coast to Talaimannar to exchange electricity between the two countries.

Under the proposed agreement between the two countries, Sri Lanka will receive an opportunity to enter the Indian power market after the country enjoys its quantum of surplus electricity in 2018.

According to a Power and Energy Ministry spokesman, Sri Lanka will generate a surplus of electricity with the construction of the proposed coal power plants to be completed in 2018.

"This is a win-win situation as both countries would benefit by this project. Sri Lanka's energy sector is largely dependent on hydro and thermal power generation.

"We have planned the second coal power plant at Sampur which will add another 500MW to the national grid. The construction of this project will also begin next week," he said.

The power generation in India will receive a tremendous boost with the addition of several power plants next year and this surplus will be exported to Sri Lanka, he said.