Work on $240 Indo-Lanka power line to begin soon

Construction work on the Indo-Sri Lanka Interconnection Power Transmission line (ISIPTL) built at a cost of USD 240 million with financial assistance from US Aid will commence shortly, Minister of Power and Energy W. D. J. Seneviratne told the Sunday Observer.

The construction of ISIPTL has been undertaken by the Central Electricity Authority of India and will be on a Build on operation and Transfer (BOT) basis. The project is scheduled to be completed in two stages, he said.

The underwater power supply line will be from the coal power plant at Madurai over 40 kilometres via the sea to Anuradapura.

With the completion of this interconnection power transmission line the CEB will purchase 500 megawatts from India at a concessionary rate.

The CEB signed this agreement to meet the country's electricity demand until the completion of following power plants.

Trincomalee 1000 MW, Norochcholai 900 MW, Hambantota 600 MW, Mawella 600MW, Mirissa 500 MW, Kerawalapitiya 300 MW, Upper-kotmale 150 MW, Gin Ganga, Moragolla, Broadland and Umaoya all together 200 MW, Mini hydro 400 MW, Wind and solid waste 400 MW. With the completion of these projects by 2015 the country's total power generation capacity will be increased to 5000 megawatts.

Sri Lanka will have an excess of 1000 MW which will be re-sold to India via the inter connection line between the two countries, he said.