Norochcholai work to plan

The fire that broke out at Norochcholai has not had any affect on the construction work planned and the first firing would take place on November 17 as scheduled.

Several teams have been set to investigate Sunday's fire at Norochcholai Power plant and their report is expected next week. This also included the government analyst and officials from the Atomic Energy Authority. Power and Energy Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka said that the damage by the fire would be absorbed by the Chinese company (CMEC) and Sri Lankan government would not have to shoulder any financial burden.

Minister Ranawaka said he expected the first phase of the project to be commissioned in January next year adding 300 MWs to the national grid as planned.

The Labour Department too has sent a team to the premises to check the safety standard of the employees and have expressed positive sentiments.

An engineer attached to the plant said that the fire broke out in a concrete building that was built to purify and recycle coal waste. "There were a lot of plastic and fibre material in it and as it was in a closed channel we could not take water inside and had to come up with other methods to control the fire," he said.

There were two fires one breaking out at 9 am and the second at 2 p.m.

Both were brought under control within three hours.

He also said that barges and tag boats for the project have already arrived and the coal for power generation is expected on November 9 from Indonesia.