Jaffna peninsula to get 24MW thermal power plant

Saturday, 8 September 2012 00:22 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) under the directions of the Minster of Power and Energy is to establish a 24MW Thermal Power plant in Chunnakam. This would stabilise the electricity supply in the Jaffna peninsula after the construction of the Kilinochchi-Chunnakam transmission line. Construction of the power plant is to be completed by early January next year.

Three 8.6MW thermal electricity generators are being set up by Lakdanavi a subsidiary company of CEB. The full cost of the projected is estimated at Rs. 4000 million. Lakdanavi states that 24 MW would be integrated to the main grid of the Jaffna Peninsula in the next four months.

These imported generators were brought to the Trincomalee harbour last Saturday by a special ‘heavy lift’ ship. The ship was by largest ship to anchor in the Trincomalee harbour after the war. The generators were then brought to Kankesanthurai and thereafter the initial setting up of the power plant started yesterday said Lakdanavi. CEB projects that through this project around 150 would be directly employed and another 100 employment opportunities related to logistics, catering, accommodation is to be created.

It is highly essential to have an uninterrupted power supply to uplift livelihood of the citizens of Jaffna. With that aim, this has become one of the high priority projects of the Government implied the Ministry of Power and Energy. The electricity that is being generated through this power plant is to be transmitted to the Main sub grid of Jaffna and through the Kilinochchi-Chunnakam transmission line electricity would be brought to Kilinochchi. At the end of this project the Ministry of Power and Energy forecasts that the existing 72% coverage in the Jaffna Peninsula would increase to 100%.