Two major development projects from November
by Shirajiv Sirimane
Two of the much awaited and long over due major development projects,
the Magampura Port and Norochcholai power plant project will operate
from November.
The one-time highly controversial Norochcholai power plant project is
set to fire its first coal on November 17, while the Magampura harbour
will be opened on November 18. The first stage of the Norochcholai
project would generate 300 mega watts to the national grid and the
investment for the total project would be Rs. 155 billion.
It would also be in a position to generate a unit of electricity at
Rs. 4.75.
The delivery of the first shipment of 65,500 MT of coal at a cost of
US$ 7 million from Indonesia is expected in the first week of November.
The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has decided to shoulder the
financial burden of financing the project as the CEB is now turning out
to be a profit-making venture.
We will start reimbursing this amount to the Treasury from 2015,
Minister of Power and Energy, Patali Champika Ranawaka said. The
country’s second coal fired power plant will be constructed at Sampur in
the Trincomalee district early next year.
Meanwhile several international shipping lines are now making
inquiries to call over on the opening day of the Magampura Port.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa would be the chief guest for the event.
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