Power and Energy

A number of mega power projects for the development of electricity generation, distribution and transmission were implemented during the last four years with an investment of Rs 90,887 mn. This will lead to meet the increasing demand for electricity and ensure the availability of an uninterrupted supply. Construction work on the power plant at Upper Kotmale has commenced and it will annually generate 409 Gwh to the National Grid. Total estimated cost of the project is Rs 38,219. Construction of the first phase of the coal fired power plant at Norochcholai with 300 MW has commenced at the cost of Rs. 56,650 mn. Meanwhile, the combined cycle power plant at Kerawalapitiya was commissioned. Rs 34,267 mn was spent on the implementation of this project. The establishment of a coal fired power plant with 500 MW capacity at Trincomalee has commenced. Rehabilitation of new Laxapana, Wimalasurendra and Ukuwela hydro power plants with 215 MW total capacity is being implemented.

Installed capacity grew from 2,409 MW in 2005 to 2690 MW in 2009. As a result, the number of electricity consumers also increased from 3.39 mn in 2005 to 4.33 in 2009 and the total households with electricity increased from 76.7 percent to 84 percent during the period. During the last 4 years, Rs 80,887 mn has been spent on the generation as well as distribution of electricity. In addition to the mega power projects, over 7,600 rural electrification schemes were implemented under the rural electrification programmes including Gama Neguma, Rajarata Navodaya and Negenahira Navodaya.

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