By Maheesha Mudugamuwa
The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) is awaiting cabinet approval to sign the electricity purchasing agreements with Lakdhanavi Ltd. to construct a long-awaited 300 MW liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant in Kerawalapitiya.
CEB Chairman Eng. Vijitha Herath told The Sunday Morning that the approval from the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) and the Attorney General’s opinion would be received in parallel, adding that as soon as the cabinet approval is granted, the agreements would be signed and the construction would begin.
“We have already submitted the cabinet papers,” he added.
When construction begins, this will be the first power plant constructed in Sri Lanka in eight years, Eng. Herath noted.
Furthermore, he said the tenders would also be called for the construction of another 300 MW LNG power plant in Kerawalapitiya.
Cabinet approval was granted last year to award the tender to set up two 300 MW LNG plants in Kerawalapitiya. The Procurement Appeal Board (PAB) approved building the Kerawalapitiya 300 MW LNG plant, awarding the contract to GCL China Windforce and RenewGen. The second contract will be awarded to Lakdhanavi to set up a new 300 MW LNG plant.
In January, the Cabinet approved the construction of a 300 MW LNG plant in Kerawalapitiya as a joint venture between the CEB, Japan, and India with financial support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), along with a coal-fired power plant with a capacity of 600 MW as an extension to an existing complex in the Norochcholai Coal Power Plant.
These projects were aimed at solving the looming power crisis and reducing the losses incurred by the CEB which results from purchasing and generating high-cost diesel electricity to meet the ever-increasing electricity demand of the country.
The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) is awaiting cabinet approval to sign the electricity purchasing agreements with Lakdhanavi Ltd. to construct a long-awaited 300 MW liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant in Kerawalapitiya.
CEB Chairman Eng. Vijitha Herath told The Sunday Morning that the approval from the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) and the Attorney General’s opinion would be received in parallel, adding that as soon as the cabinet approval is granted, the agreements would be signed and the construction would begin.
“We have already submitted the cabinet papers,” he added.
When construction begins, this will be the first power plant constructed in Sri Lanka in eight years, Eng. Herath noted.
Furthermore, he said the tenders would also be called for the construction of another 300 MW LNG power plant in Kerawalapitiya.
Cabinet approval was granted last year to award the tender to set up two 300 MW LNG plants in Kerawalapitiya. The Procurement Appeal Board (PAB) approved building the Kerawalapitiya 300 MW LNG plant, awarding the contract to GCL China Windforce and RenewGen. The second contract will be awarded to Lakdhanavi to set up a new 300 MW LNG plant.
In January, the Cabinet approved the construction of a 300 MW LNG plant in Kerawalapitiya as a joint venture between the CEB, Japan, and India with financial support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), along with a coal-fired power plant with a capacity of 600 MW as an extension to an existing complex in the Norochcholai Coal Power Plant.
These projects were aimed at solving the looming power crisis and reducing the losses incurred by the CEB which results from purchasing and generating high-cost diesel electricity to meet the ever-increasing electricity demand of the country.