Measures to reduce unit cost of electricity

Anuradha KODAGODA

During the next two years we will electrify the entire country since we have already provided electricity to 86 percent of the population. The balance 14 percent will be provided within next two years, said Secretary, Power and Energy Ministry M. M. C. Ferdinando at a press conference held at the Information Department yesterday.

"Out of the 4.7 million families only 600,000 families remaining without electricity.

"The majority of them are from the Northern Province. With the dawn of peace we have taken immediate action to fulfill this need to the Northern people.

"As at today we have provided electricity to 37 percent in Mannar. Mullaitivu (one percent) and Kilinochchi (4 percent). In Jaffna we have increased the electricity facility from 49 percent to 60 percent," he said.

He said, "our main concern is to reduce the unit cost by introducing new electricity generation methods.

"As a result we started the Upper Kotmale hydro power project which will be commissioned by the end of 2010, Kerawalapitiya combined cycle power plant will be fully commissioned at end of this year, the first phase of Puttalam coal power project will be completed by 2010 and Broadlands hydro power project will be commissioned by 2013.

"In addition to that we have signed an MoU for the Trincomalee coal project this year. By implementing all these projects we hope to reduce the unit cost of the electricity up to Rs. 10," he said.

"There are many on going major projects for electrification such as Uthuru Vasanthaya for the Northern Province - 400 new schemes, accelerated rural electrification program - 600 new schemes, rural electrification - four to 225 new schemes, rural electrification - 8 to 1,000 schemes and lighting Sri Lanka projects which is activated in every province of the country," he said.