Second stage of Kerawalapitiya thermal power plant:

Ceremonial commissioning on February 25

Another 100 MW to National Grid:

Wasantha Ramanayake

The second phase of the Kerawalapitiya multi-fuel combined cycle thermal power plant would be ceremonially commissioned by President Mahinda Rajapaksa on February 25, adding another 100 MW to the National Grid, a Power and Energy Ministry official said.

He said that with the commencement of the second phase, the price per unit of electricity paid by the CEB would be reduced to Rs 14-16. Earlier it was around Rs 20. The plant could generate at its full capacity of 300 MW, the official said.

He added that the significant feature of the plant was that it could be operated on any of the three kinds of fuel Diesel, furnace oil or even Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), and is therefore called multi fuel operated. “The turbines could be operated by the gases emitted as a result of the combustion of fuel. Then a second turbine could be operated using the steam generated by the heat of such gases as well and this is why it is called the combined cycle,” he explained.

“Since the second phase uses the steam produced by capturing the heat produced at the first phase, it is free,” the official said.

The first phase was commissioned in December 2008 adding 200 MW. The official said that the cost of the power could be minimal since it could use cheaper furnace oil which was only half as expensive as diesel.

He said local engineers played a major role from designing up to the final commissioning of the plant and thus the total project cost was also minimal. US$ 120 million out of the total cost of US$326 million would be borne by five State entities who are the major share-holders.

US$ 206 million would be funded by foreign loans. West Coast (Pvt) Ltd., a majority Government owned company would operate the plant and at the end of the project period after 25 years, it would be handed over to the CEB free of charge.