Puttalam wind power plant:

Another 10 MWs to National Grid

Shirley Wijesinghe

Another 10 megawatts will be added to the National Grid with the commissioning of Puttalam wind power plant from July 1, Power and Energy Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka said.

Minister Ranawaka added that the development of renewable energy sector would play a vital role in fulfilling the country’s power demand. He was addressing the media after going on an inspection tour of the Puttalam wind power plant recently.

A power capacity of 10 megawatts had been released to the National Grid recently from the stage one of the project, he said. Ranawaka said the partnership in private sector of the renewable energy field has helped enhance the national power capacity with a more environment-friendly approach .

Investment for the US $40 million Puttalam wind power project is made by two private companies, Segawantivu Wind Power (Pvt ) Ltd and Vidathamunai Wind Power (Pvt.) Ltd.

The Power and Energy Ministry will soon set up five wind power plants in the areas where wind power velocity is high to fulfil the wind power requirements.

According to Power and Energy Ministry sources the site clearance and other infrastructure facilities had been provided by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Sri Lanka to expedite providing a solution to these problems.

Meanwhile, the Government has decided to declare Kalpitiya as a wind power potential zone in the country.