Electricity - Lighting lives and
catalyzing development
Investing a total of 298,065
million rupees the Government plans to boost the nation with
an increase in the electricity and power supply with several
projects.
 Kerawalapitiya power plant, Upper Kothmale power plant,
Norochcholai coal fired power plant - phase 02,
Kerawalapitiya gas fired power plant, Trincomalee coal fired
power plant, Medium and Low Voltage network Development,
Development and Improvement of transmission systems,
Improvement of transmission systems, are the main projects
the Government is focusing on.
At present the average electricity coverage is about
80%-85% in urban and 50%-60% in rural areas. Grid
electricity can only be provided to 85% of households in the
country, the balance could be supplied using off-grid
renewable energy technologies such as minihydro, solar, wind
and dendro power etc.
At present, it is estimated that 74% of households have
electricity with grid connected electricity whilst 3% are
served by off-grid facilities.
With the approximate 7% - 8% annual increase of
electricity demand around 200 MW needs to be added to the
system, annually. Hydro electric power plants are being
constructed.
By 2010, it is expected to expand the coverage of
electricity in the country to 90% including off-grid
technology.
The transmission and distribution loss is estimated to be
16% of net generation. It is expected to reduce the
transmission and distribution loss to 12% by 2016. In order
to achieve this target, it is planned to improve the
existing transmission and distribution facilities.
The Kerawalapitiya power plant construction has already
commenced and aims to complete by September 2008. The power
plant aims to add 300MW to the national grid and to ensure
that the average annual increase in demand of 200 MW is
fulfilled. The total allocation for the project is 34,267
million rupees.
Contributing towards low cost power generation in Sri
Lanka, the Norochcholai Coal Fired Power Plant expects to
add 300 MW to the national grid in the first stage and 600
MW in the second and third stages, respectively.
The cost of power generation from coal fired power plants
is relatively low compared to oil fired power plants; this
project will result in saving a considerable amount of
foreign exchange and reduction in the cost of power
generation.
The tariff for electricity can be reduced due to the low
cost of power generation. At present, the cost of a
delivered unit of electricity is Rs. 12.65. This value can
be reduced considerably.
As a part of the national programme to establish low cost
power plants the Upper Kotmale hydro power plant is under
construction and expects to add 409 GW to the national grid.
This project will save foreign exchange that is currently
utilized for importing diesel for thermal power generation.
The power generation of this project will be useful to
provide electricity to regions where electricity supply is
currently not available. At present 23% of the total
households in the country does not have access to
electricity, a part of this population will receive
electricity through this project.
The implementation of transmission development
activities, with an expense of 4,024 million rupees, is
expected to ensure a reliable power supply and reduce
transmission losses of the national grid. Improvement of
transmission systems is targeted to complete by year 2011
with a cost of 26,805 million rupees.
(DY)
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