• CEB gets approval to set up 100MW solar plant with private investments 
• Feasibility for plant done by ADB
• Indonesian company gets Rs. 254 m deal to supply two transformers 
• 10MW of wind power to be purchased from Trinco grid substation 

The Cabinet green-lighted several power sector projects this week, including kicking off a 100MW solar power plant in Siyambalanduwa, purchasing two transformers from an Indonesian company and adding 60MW of wind power to the national grid. 

Cabinet Spokesman and Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella told reporters during an online Cabinet briefing that three Cabinet papers submitted by Power Minister Dallas Allahaperuma and Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila had been approved. 

Central among these papers was the one for the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) to set up a 100MW solar power plant in Siyambalanduwa using private investment and construction of the power line from Medagama to Ampara.

“The necessary preliminary steps have been taken to implement the Siyambalanduwa solar power plant, such as studying the feasibilities and securing the lands and environmental evaluations. The assistance of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has been received to conduct an analysis on the procedure to be followed to develop the power plant and its funding,” Rambukwella said. 

It has been proved by the analysis that the proposed project with transmission infrastructure should be implemented as a single procurement of the 100MW power plant and transmission facilities, in order to obtain a minimum power consumption charge for the generation and transmission of a unit of electricity according to the various capacity opportunities that could be implemented, he added.  

Competitive bids were called earlier for the contract of Providing, Fixing and Supervising of two 132/33kV, 45MWA electric transformers for the Wagawatta grid substation. 

Accordingly, the proposal tabled by the Minister of Energy to award the contract to PT.CG Power Systems – Indonesia at a sum of Rs. 245.62 million (VAT excluded), as recommended by the Standing Committee on Procurement appointed by the Cabinet of Ministers, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers. 

“It has also been decided to add on an amount of 60MW wind power capacity for the electricity supply system through Trincomalee, Mannar, Bolawatte, Madampe and Kappalthure grid substations with the view to increase the usage of renewable energy sources,” the Minister said.  

Accordingly, the proposal to award the contract to purchase 10MW wind power capacity for a time period of 20 years for the Trincomalee grid substation at the rate of Rs. 14.52 per unit (Kwh), and to construct the above mentioned power plant inter-connectedly to the transmission network for Capital City Holdings (Pvt.) Ltd. by following the international competitive bids procedure and as recommended by the Negotiating Committee appointed by the Cabinet of Ministers, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

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