High praise for Norochcholai for meeting 45 percent of country’s power demand

By Ifham Nizam

Power Minister Gamini Lokuge, during a visit to the Norochcholai Power Plant, on Monday said the government would do everything in its power to ensure an uninterrupted power supply.

Speaking to journalists, Minister Lokuge said necessary arrangements should be made to maintain the Puttalam Lakvijaya Power Plant, which was making a significant contribution to the country, to be more productive.

Lokuge emphasised that such a vital power plant should provide technical and theoretical training to the youth of the country and make the necessary arrangements to make them qualified for foreign employment.

Its initial 300 MW was added to the national grid in 2011 by President Mahinda Rajapaksa. The construction of the 93-hectare power plant was carried out by Chinese government engineers.

The Minister inquired about the operation of the power plant, the availability of coal, environmental safety as well as the welfare of the employees.

The Secretary to the Ministry and the General Manager of the Ceylon Electricity Board were instructed to ensure its smooth running.

Lokuge also commented on the projects currently underway and proposed to be launched by the Ministry of Power and the Ceylon Electricity Board to increase the contribution of renewable energy to the national grid to 70% by 2030 in keeping with the President’s vision of prosperity.

Lokuge said that the aim was to provide a continuous power supply to consumers at a low cost.

The Lakvijaya Power Plant, which contributes to about 40 percent of Sri Lanka’s electricity demand, is now successfully and actively contributing to the national economy while maintaining High Environmental Protection Standards.

Chief Engineer of the power plant Nalaka Wijekoon, Secretary to the Ministry of Power and Energy Wasantha Perera, CEB General Manager M.R. Ranathunga, Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Power (Generation, Transmission and Distribution) Sugath Dharmakeerthi, Chairman of the Ceylon Coal Company Jagath Perera, CEB Deputy Chairman Nalinda Illangakoon, Private Secretary to the Minister of Power and Energy Thushara Perera and a number of senior officials in charge of the project were present.