Cabinet approves continuity of 150 MW solar project

Cabinet this week approved a proposal by the Power Ministry, which awards selected bidders the opportunity to build solar power plants to generate 150 MW of electricity at multiple locations islandwide. 

Approval had initially been given in December last year to award purchase contracts under five packages, for competitive bids recommended by the negotiation committees, which did not have any appeals lodged against them. 

According to the Cabinet office, the Procurements Appeals Board has denied the appeals furnished. As such, the Power Ministry has been given approval to award tenders to selected bidders for the grid sub stations of Anuradhapura, Habarana, Matara, Galle, Deniyaya, Kosgama, Mathugama, Pannala, Mahawa and Kurunegala, for a period of 20 years. 

The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) project is looking for foreign and local investors to develop and maintain 150 MW of power under Phase III of the ‘Sooraya Bala Sangramaya’ program. The project will see investors setup the power plants on a build-own-operate (BOO) basis for a 20-year period.