Generating power for future

Wasantha RAMANAYAKE

Minister W.D.J. Seneviratne

Power and Energy Minister W.D.J. Seneviratne believes that there is tangible progress in country’s power generation since he assumed office. His first task was to see the projects that had been planned by then and get them off the ground. He had taken every possible step to commence the construction of these plants that had been long delayed.

Minister Seneviratne said President Mahinda Rajapaksa was instrumental in starting the projects such as Norochcholai in May 2006, Upper Kotmale Hydro Power Project in March 2006 and Kerawalapitiya multi-fuel operated combined cycle power plant.

He said he had taken steps to implement the projects funded by the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA) which had been idling and not been carried out owing to certain disagreements with the donors. He said he was able to sort out the issues and implement the projects including rural electrification. He added that the government also pumped in money for rural electrification projects.

With the implementation of the Accelerated Electricity Program and the Iranian Rural Electricity Program which are still under negotiations, people in the North and East will get electricity within next one and half years.

Here are the excerpts of the interview with the Minister.

Q: How well are electrification programs progressing in the Northern and Eastern provinces after being liberated from the LTTE and how soon could they be completed?

A: These programs are being carried out by the Ceylon Electricity Board quite successfully in the two provinces under Negenahira Navodaya and Uthuru Wasanthaya programs which are being supervised and directed by Senior Presidential Advisor and Parliamentarian Basil Rajapaksa.

The major part of the Eastern province has been covered by rural electrification projects. The people in the Northern Province are mostly in welfare centres. It is important that they return to their homes and restart their lives. All people in the North and East will get electricity.

To achieve this, CEB is now engaged in the construction of substations and distribution lines and all important towns and villages will be connected to the grid to be supplied electricity using diesel generators. The progress will encourage those in centres to go back to their houses.

Q: How are these projects funded?

A: Presently the funding is done through Gama Neguma by the Treasury. As the CEB works the money comes in. These are basically funded locally.

Q: How is the ‘Lighting Hambantota’ program progressing? Would the program be extended to cover the rest of the Southern Province?

A: Hambantota is a district where electricity is scarce. However, with the implementation of the Lighting Hambantota program the percentage will rise up to about 90 percent. But the electrification of the rest of the Southern province in Galle and Matara districts are satisfactory and will not be covered under this program. In Matara district, Hakmana and Deniyaya and in Galle district, Baddegama and Hiniduma are not well connected. These areas will be connected to the national grid under various rural electrification programs funded by the ADB, SIDA, Gama Neguma and CEB. But these are not covered under the ‘Lighting Hambantota’ program.

The worksite of Norachcholai power plant. Picture by Sarath Weerasinghe

Q: What is the current situation of the Uma oya hydro electricity project?

A: Now an agreement had been signed with the Iranian Government and the project will be implemented by the Irrigation Ministry. The construction will start soon. This project envisages supply of 100 MW to the national grid.

Q: There are allegations of importing and selling of low quality fuel by the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation for power generation. Is there any truth in them and what are the steps you have taken in this regard?

A: The problem is with plants operated by the Independent Power Producers (IPPs). Now the fuel will be re-refined and we are assured that the problem will not recur.

Q: There are complaints by investors producing solar power that incentives are not adequate. What is your response?

A: Generation of solar power being a renewable energy category comes under the purview of the Sustainable Energy Authority (SEA). All what I know is that they were considering some proposals and letters of intent have been granted. It is an expensive exercise and SEA has been doing its best to encourage the developers. So far no one has brought to my notice, any act of discouragement on the part of SEA.

Q: The Government emphasised coal power as the main source of energy. What is the future of coal power in the country?

A: Coal would be the future source of cheap power generation. Now when the first phase of the Norochcholai coal power plant is completed that would add 300 MW in the next year. This would be expanded to produce 900mw. We are giving finishing touches to the negotiations with India to construct jointly a coal power plant in Sampur in Trincomalee. This would be the country’s largest coal power plant with a capacity of 1000 MW.

Q: How do you respond to the allegations of the JVP that the Sampur site is owned by India?

A: The plant will be a joint venture between the Indian and Sri Lankan Governments and the plant will be jointly owned by two countries in equal shares.

Q: Who will benefit?

A: Sri Lanka as a whole. The power produced there will be brought to Anuradhapura and distributed to other areas.

Q: Would there be any other coal power plants?

A: No plans as yet.

Q: What could be the future of the power generation using Liquefied Natural Gas or LNG and nuclear technology?

A: A private entity is perusing such a project in Kerawalapiitya and if the low cost requirement that has been on offer is met the CEB would buy the power.

However, there are no substantive proposals to generate power using nuclear technology as yet.

Q: How are you going to manage the reservoirs?

A: De-silting is not a major problem. Not much silting is experienced.

Q: There were media reports that the power generation capacity of the Victoria reservoir is to be doubled. How are you going to increase the capacity of Victoria reservoir?

A: No, I do not think. Another turbine could be installed but the capacity of the reservoir would not change and the power generation capacity too would not substantially change.