Electricity for all by 2012

Dharma Sri Abeyratne

Moves are under way by the Government to achieve a 100 percent electrification level by 2012 supplying electricity to all houses, Power and Energy Ministry Secretary M.M.C. Ferdinando said.

The Power and Energy Ministry has engaged itself in this national task to achieve the set goal on time.

Presently the electrification level is 85 percent. From 2005, the electrification level was increased from 70 percent to 85 percent. As scheduled, by the year 2012 the electrification level will be 100 percent, Ferdinando said.

To achieve this target the Government has taken several steps including the construction of several power plants.

Under these initiatives coal plants and hydro power plants are being constructed. All these power plants which are under construction will produce much more electricity than we will require.

The Government plans to send the excess electricity to India through an underground channel which will be constructed shortly.