Korea pledges $ 16 m for power and energy sector development

With the aim of supplying the daily requirement of power focusing on various sources of electricity, a discussion was held between Minister of Power and Energy Patali Champika Ranawaka and officials of the Korean Government at the Ministry auditorium yesterday on Thursday.

During this meeting the Korean Government praised the efforts of the Sri Lankan power sector for utilising a combination of power generating methods to meet the daily power requirements of the country.

It further pledged financial aid of US$ 16 million for the development of the power and energy sector.

In keeping with the goal of providing electricity to all by 2012, the Sri Lankan and Korean delegation discussed green energy sources and the Korean Government is expected to assist in this area as well.  The Minister of Power and Energy explained the progress of the Hambantota Buruthakanda Solar Power Park with a 500 KW capacity being built with Korean assistance and it was decided during this meeting to add the generated solar power to the national grid by the end of August this year.

         

Minister Ranawaka also discussed with the Korean delegation the issues pertaining to street lamps and sought the assistance of the Korean Government in installing solar power street lamps, which are being used successfully in Korea.

Another request which was made by the Minister was for technical expertise and methods in the hydro pump storage system which is a method for utilising the same water in the production of hydro power generation. The Korean delegation agreed to provide assistance and said that a special delegation would visit Sri Lanka in order to discuss the matter further.

Korean Ambassador Jongmoon Choi, Adviser Ha Wei Young, Ministry Secretary M.M.C Fernando and several other officials participated in these discussions, which will no doubt aid the achievement of the goal of providing electricity for all by 2012.