News
Final decision on fourth coal plant shortly
By Ifham Nizam
The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the fourth plant of the Norochcholai coal power complex had not yet been conducted, a project official yesterday told The Island.
He said that EIA was to be conducted by the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) following a request from the CEB. China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC), which is to construct the fourth plant, however, would not be involved in the EIA process, the official assured
The senior official said that the final decision on the construction of the fourth unit would only be taken by the new government to be formed. He added that people and industrialists had reduced electricity use. Coal consumption too had decreased this year.
Global Energy Monitor (GEM,) a non-governmental organisation which catalogues worldwide fossil fuel infrastructure, in a recent report, said that even before Covid-19, new coal plant construction was slowing in Asia. The pandemic further accelerated the region’s transition away from the fossil fuel as it caused delays in coal plant construction, the study said.
Only one gigawatt (GW) of coal power was newly proposed in the Asia region. This is almost a 70 per cent drop from the average 2.9GW of new proposals and 2.7GW of new construction every six months in the region since 2015, said the study’s lead author Christine Shearer.
“I do think Coved will [continue to] accelerate the transition away from coal in Southeast Asia,” said Shearer, who is also the director of GEMs coal programme.
“Covid is also lowering projections of future energy demand, at least in the near-term, and with its higher fuel costs over solar and wind, plans for new coal plants may be among the first to be cut.”
Business
Sri Lanka reaches in principle agreement for restructuring sovereign debt with external commercial creditors
On the 19th of September 2024, Sri Lanka announced that it has reached Agreements in Principle on the restructuring of approximately USD$ 17.5 billion of external commercial debt (as of end 2023).
These agreements have been reached with holders of its International Sovereign Bonds, following negotiations with the Ad Hoc Group of Bondholders (“AHGB”), a representative group of international investors, and the Local Consortium of Sri Lanka (“LCSL”), a representative group of domestic financial institutions. Collectively, the two groups hold in excess of 50% of the Bonds.
Under the agreements, holders of the Bonds will be consenting to a present value concession of 40.3% in the baseline scenario, calculated with a discount factor of 11%. The agreements provide Sri Lanka with enhanced debt relief compared to the Joint Working Framework agreed in July 2024, including a further reduction in interest payments provided in the new agreement.
Sri Lanka also announced that it has finalized agreement in principle with China Development Bank (“CDB”) on the key financial terms of the restructuring of approximately US$ 3.3bn of sovereign debt.
As a result of the agreements already achieved with Eximbank of China and members of Sri Lanka’s Official Creditor Committee (“OCC”) as well as CDB and bondholders, Sri Lanka will have obtained over USD 17bn of debt service relief during the IMF program period (around USD 2.4bn from Eximbank of China, USD 2.9bn from the OCC, USD 2.5bn from CDB and USD 9.5bn from the bondholders).
His Excellency the President expressed his deep appreciation for all of Sri Lanka’s creditors who engaged in good faith throughout this process, and also for the International Monetary Fund and the OCC Secretariat for the continuous and constructive support.
The official announcement is available at: https://links.sgx.com/FileOpen/Sri%20Lanka%20%20Announcement%20of%20Agreement%20in%20Principle%20-%2019_09_2024.ashx?App=Announcement&FileID=819175
The National Security Council convened this morning (19) at the Presidential Secretariat, chaired by President Ranil Wickremesinghe, to discuss security arrangements for the upcoming 2024 presidential election.
The council focused on ensuring the election is conducted independently and fairly, with full support pledged to the Election Commission to maintain law and order.
Key discussions included safeguarding candidates, securing polling centres, and upholding security at polling stations.
Additionally, President Wickremesinghe directed security agency heads to take all necessary steps to maintain peace and stability in the country during the post-election period, ensuring minimal disruption to the daily lives of citizens.
A fully equipped modern library funded by the Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka was officially handed over to D.B. Welagedara Central College Kurunegala by the President’s Secretary, Mr. Saman Ekanayake.yesterday (18),
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