SLCC saves Rs 2.4 m with solar power

Ramani KANGARAARACHCHI

Sri Lanka Cashew Corporation (SLCC)in its Puttalam Plantation has been able to save around Rs 2.4 million annually by introducing a solar power system to its premises at an affordable cost.

Industrial Services Bureau (ISB) Director, S. B. Neelakantha said the monthly saving is around Rs. 200,000. In addition to cost saving, SLCC has strengthened the country's economy and reduced adverse environmental impacts by deviating from fossil fuel. Also the premises has now become a perfect tourist attraction which gives an awesome experience of a cashew plantation spread across 900 acres.

SLCC was established to develop the cashew industry into a long term commercial viability by providing professional guidance to farmers and to develop cashew cultivation, processing technology, value addition, research and market promotion.

For the last four decades the bungalows of Puttalam Plantation, was not under grid electricity support and it was operated with an off-grid generator system which consumes nearly 2.5 litres per hour and electricity for the staff was supplied only for one hour a day.

Last month the SLCC and ISB jointly solved the power crisis at the Puttalam Plantation premises by introducing a solar system.

The project was able to provide electricity to 3 bungalows including the superintendent's bungalow, research officer's bungalow and visitors' bungalow along with three small houses of the office staff.