Government to invest more in energy sector
Indunil HEWAGE
The government is committed to invest heavily in the energy sector to
increase power generation capacity to electrify 99 percent of the areas
in the country by 2012.
Power and Energy Ministry Additional Secretary (Technical) Tissa M
Herath said they are heavily investing in the energy sector, which has
around 7 to 8 percent growth rate per annum.
|
Tissa Herath |
"Coal power, renewable energy and hydropower sectors will be the
government's main investing areas. Substantial investments are also
being made on power transmission and distribution activities. In
addition the government is in the process of providing tariff
concessions to the private sector investors particularly in the
renewable energy sector," he said.
Herath said the local industry is far ahead in the region with its
ability to provide quality energy supply without having constant power
cuts as in other countries. "But the main problem we have to face today
is to maintain a significant industry growth rate in an environmental
friendly manner with the reduction of present carbon emission," he said.
The ongoing development initiatives in the country particularly in
the Southern province will also be posing some challenges for entire
power industry, attributed to increasing demand for energy requirements
for the ports and aviation activities.
In addition, plans are on to introduce a new Act to set up an
Engineering Council to regulate engineering professionals and number of
various engineering institutions in the country.
Herath made these views participating in the inaugural ceremony of
Fifth Power Sri Lanka International Expo, which is a leading
international exhibition on power generation, transmission, PV Power,
energy and renewable energy.
The exhibition will be held from June 16 to 18, at Sri Lanka
Exhibition and Convention Centre and it will open for trade and business
visitors from 10 am to 6.30 pm each day.
In addition, concurrent exhibitions named Renewable Energy Sri Lanka
2011 International Expo, E-Power Sri Lanka 2011 International Expo will
be held on electric power equipment and technology.
These three exhibitions are organized by the Conference and
Exhibition Management Services Ltd (CEMS)-USA and CEMS Lanka to bring
all stakeholders in the energy sector under one roof while catering to
the needs of the power and energy sector as a whole. |
