Sunday, 17 October 2004 |
Politics | Today's Top Story |
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Power Minister energetic on Upper Kotmale by Rohan Mathes Power and Energy Minister Susil Premjayantha is determined to push forward the 'Upper Kotmale' and 'Norochcholai Coal Power Project' soon to avert an inevitable power crisis. Minister Premjayantha in an exclusive interview to the Sunday Observer said, "my position is that if we don't push forward both the 'Upper Kotmale' and the 'Norochcholai' projects immediately, we will face a severe power crisis within the next four to five years. We will address the issues as they arise, and go ahead with the two projects"."As for the 'Upper Kotmale' project, we have already had several ministerial sub-committees on it, and we are finalising to go ahead with the compromised project. The alternative and amended 'Yorksford' project has still not been adequately evaluated by our Engineers, and if we delay any more it would be disastrous". The Minister also said that they have appointed inter-ministerial committees who would forward their proposals within a month regarding the 'Renewable Energy' projects like 'Dendro', 'bio-mass' and 'Mini-hydro' among others. Tests would be conducted in December for 'oil and gas exploration', with a view to calling for tenders in April. They are also seeking a joint venture with India in this regard. The minister added that the CEB is in a financial crisis due to the tariffs, where they purchase at a higher rate and sell at a lower one |
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