Electricity for all by 2012

Chaminda PERERA in Puttalam

The Government succeeded in adding more than 600 MWs to the national grid within four years, said Power and Energy Minister W.D.J. Seneviratne yesterday.

The Minister was speaking at the inauguration of the construction on the Norochcholai power plant phase II by President Mahinda Rajapaksa in Norochcholai.

He said the Government will add more than 1,000 MWs to the national grid by 2012. Phase II of the Norochcholai coal fired Thermal power plant is expected to add another 600 MW to the national grid by 2012.

The Minister added that he will be able to achieve the Government's aim to provide every household with electricity by 2012. The first phase of the Norochcholai power plant has been completed and it will add 300 MWs to the national grid by November this year.

The Minister added that the Norochcholai coal power plant will play a pivotal role to realize the Government's endeavour of making the country an energy hub of Asia.

He added that the Laxapana Hydro power scheme adds more than 336 MWs to the National grid and the hydro power schemes under the Mahaweli Scheme such as Victoria, Randenigala and Rantembe add another 666 MWs to the national grid.

He said the Thermal power stations run by the Ceylon Electricity Board and small scale power stations belonging to the private sector, provide more than 1,200 MWs to the national grid.

He stressed that the Upper Kotmale Hydro power project will also provide another 150 MWs to the national grid by the end of this year.

"We will launch Sri Lanka's first wind power project by next week. The Government focussed equal attention on the power generation and the distribution to the customers. The transmission lines and sub stations were repaired by the Government," he added.

The Minister said the Ministry has established the Chunnakam plant to provide electricity to the people in Jaffna round the clock.