New power plant to light up Jaffna and suburbs

by Ananda KANNANGARA

Over 650,000 electricity consumers in the Jaffna district will enjoy a 24-hour uninterrupted supply with the commissioning of its new 36 MV thermal power plant at Chunnakam, Jaffna on February 1.

The power plant has been constructed at a cost of US $ 25 million, by the Northern Power Company (NPC), a subsidiary of a Malaysian firm.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa will ceremonially commission the plant on the invitation of Power and Energy Minister W.D.J. Seneviratne.

According to the construction agreement, the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) will purchase power from the NPC and distributed under the supervision of the Ministry. Speaking to the Sunday Observer, Minister Seneviratne said the power purchasing agreement will be signed after commissioning the plant.

"According to a recent survey, over 650,000 Jaffna residents are in need of electricity, but the plant now in operation which is located in close proximity to Jaffna town can provide electricity only to about 150,000 connections". The Minister also added that the new plant will fulfil the needs of a large number of consumers and the industrial sector.

Meanwhile, a senior CEB official yesterday said that additional power will also have to be distributed among other villages along the newly opened A-9 and A-32 Roads.