News
Govt. unveil plans to build solar power based national mini-grid
Apart from LNG plants in the pipeline
by IFHAM NIZAM
As the demand-supply gap in Sri Lanka’s power generation sector continues to widens, the government announced plans for an ambitious solar power based national mini-grid that extends to villages. This is apart from the LNG plants in the pipeline.
Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) Chairman Eng. Vijitha Herath said that on completion, the proposed solar network is expected to offer a unit of electricity 45% lower than electricity produced from existing solar powered networks.
Former Minister Basil Rajapaksa, who is also the Chairman of Sri Lanka’s Presidential Task Force on Economic Revival and Poverty Alleviation, has instructed the CEB to construct 100-kilowatt solar power plants and connect them to 7,250 transformers across the country within the next three years.
A key feature of the project is that it is fashioned on the support of villagers at local level. The village level credit and finance institutions such as Samurdhi Banks, Rural Banks, Cooperative Societies and Community Network projects are also considered as key investors in the project which calls for an estimated Rs. 10 million (USD 56,000) investment.
Competitive bidding is to be called soon, according to official sources, who also revealed the projected 1,000MW can be obtained at Rs. 12 per unit, 45% lower than the 300MW of solar energy obtained at Rs. 22 per unit for the last five years.
The project, which is in line with the CEB and Lanka Electricity Company’s (LECO) project to connect 10,000, 100 kW solar power plants to the Distribution Transformer Network, will integrate 7,250 transformers from the 35,000 transformer network installed across the country.
In Sri Lanka, the gap between the demand and supply of power is fast becoming unbridgeable. According to CEB estimates, Sri Lanka’s electricity demand is expected to grow at 5.3 percent on average in the 2015 – 2034 period, in addition the peak demand is expected to grow at 4.7 percent on average.
With the average cost of generation at Rs. 23 and the selling price at Rs. 16, the CEB finds hard to bridge the gap. This trend had been continuing for more than four years.
A senior Electrical Engineer said the CEB cannot go on with expensive diesel and emergency power and should stick with the proposed Long Term Generation Plan.
CEB’s Long-Term Generation Expansion Plan encompasses LNG-fired combined cycle power plants and associated LNG import infrastructure – 2×300 MW dual fuel combined cycle power plants to be commissioned in the western region by 2022.
The associated LNG importing infrastructure is to be developed on a fast track process with sufficient capacity to cater to both the new power plants and the conversion of other oil-fired combined cycle power plants in the western region.
Furthermore, an additional 3×300 MW natural gas combined cycle power plants are expected to be commissioned by 2026 in either Kerawalapitiya or Hambantota.
Power and Energy Minister Dallas Alahapperuma said that during the last five years, only 300MW were added to the national grid, although the demand for electricity is growing at 6% on an annual basis.
Lanka Transformers Limited (LTL), which will own a majority stake has received Cabinet approval for the construction. The power plant with a capacity of 300MW (extending up to 350MW) to be commenced at the Lakdanavi Power Plant premises in Kerawalapitiya in December after the Power Purchase Agreement signed later this month.
The first phase of plant, the open cycle 225 MW, will be completed in 21 months and 125MW Combined Cycle would be completed in one year, a senior Electrical Engineer told The Sunday Island.
He said that the government should go all out to call for tenders to bring LNG at the earliest, rather than waiting till the plants are completed. “This is a crucial process that cannot be taken lightly,” he added
At present, about 35 percent of Sri Lanka’s national power generation comes from diesel power plants where the cost of production per unit is as high as Rs. 30. LNG power plants can reduce the cost up to Rs. 15 per unit.
He was examining security officer’s new weapon while waiting for his wife to join him on a morning walk
Friday’s shock death of former IGP Chandana Wickramaratne due to gunshot injuries on his chest was possibly due to an accidental discharge of his personal security officer’s (PSO’s) pistol. Wickramaratne, who was kitted for his walk and waiting on the verandah for his wife to join him, was examining the PSO’s new weapon, knowledgeable sources said.
These sources said the wife who was putting on her shoes inside the house heard a bang and found Wickramaratne fallen on the verandah.
The retired IGP had noticed the security officer carrying a new weapon and had asked to examine it. Saying he carried a similar weapon years ago, he found no magazine and said, “are you planning to accompany me on my walk with a pistol without a magazine?”
The PSO had then handed the loaded magazine and gone into the house to fetch a requested bottle of water when the weapon had gone off.
The sources said that Wickramaratne was in no way depressed and had attended an Ananda College old boy’s event a few days ago, had dinner with friends and chatted with them. He had an appointment to meet a friend on Saturday.
Friends and family saw no reason for Wickramaratne to take his own life and there was no evidence whatever of an external agent shooting him. The former IGP was pronounced dead at the Colombo East Teaching Hospital to which he was rushed.
Police said investigations were proceeding and an autopsy report was awaited.
Wickramaratne was appointed the 35th Inspector General on November 25, 2020 and retired three years later in 2023. He had also set a record as the longest serving acting IGP since his naming to that position in May 2019 after his predecessor Pujith Jayasundara was sent on compulsory leave.
He joined as a trainee Assistant Superintendent in June 1986 after graduating from the Colombo University. He was absorbed to the National Intelligence Bureau where he worked till 1995. Thereafter he reverted to the uniform service and had been posted across the country, including the northern and eastern areas at the height of the war.
Former Colombo Mayor Rosy Senanayake appeared before the Presidential Commission of Inquiry appointed to investigate allegations of corruption and fraud at the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) on Friday (17).
Speaking to the media after appearing before the commission, Senanayake said she had been summoned to provide information regarding a food voucher programme implemented during her tenure as Mayor amid the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic crisis.
She said the programme, carried out through state-owned Lanka Sathosa, was introduced to provide assistance to low-income and vulnerable families affected by the economic hardships during the period.
“We gave food vouchers from Sathosa to the poor during the pandemic and economic crisis.
They wanted answers to some questions they had regarding the programme,” Senanayake said.The Presidential Commission is currently investigating allegations relating to financial irregularities, corruption and other misconduct within the Colombo Municipal Council.
A police constable has been suspended from service following an inquiry into allegations that he sat on the lap of a female police constable while under the influence of alcohol at the Makalugaswewa Police Station.
Police said the constable had reported for duty at a musical concert held at the Dambulla Gam Udawa Stadium on July 15 and later returned to the police station to resume duties.
According to initial reports, the constable allegedly sat on the female officer’s lap after seeing her seated on a chair at the station.
The female police constable subsequently lodged a complaint with the Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) in charge of the area through the Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the police station.
A preliminary investigation into the incident found that the constable had allegedly been under the influence of alcohol at the time of the incident.
Following the inquiry into the alleged harassment of the female officer and the constable’s conduct while on duty, police authorities took steps to suspend his service pending further action.
by Norman Palihawadane ✍️
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