Kanchana reviews progress of rapid renewable energy generation plan

• Appoints joint committee comprising CEB and SEA officials to finalise renewable energy plans 
• Discusses salient points of proposed 100 MW solar plant in Siyambalanduwa 

Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera said salient points in connection with the proposed 100 MW solar plant in Siyambalanduwa were discussed during a progress review meeting last Friday.

He also noted that a joint committee comprising the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) and Sustainable Energy Authority (SEA) was appointed to finalise the renewable energy strategy.

“We discussed the proposed 100 MW solar plant in Siyambalanduwa, EOIs, floating solar, tariffs, grid capacity, and signing of power purchase agreement (PPA),” he said.  The Daily FT exclusively reported that the State-run Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has called for International Competitive Bidding (ICB) to develop a 100 MW AC (alternating-current) solar PV (photovoltaic) power plant on a Build, Own, and Operate (BOO) basis in Siyambalanduwa for three years (https://www.ft.lk/front-page/SL-calls-the-world-to-boost-renewable-energy/44-739005).

In addition, the CEB has called for ICBs to construct a 132 kV transmission facility on a turnkey basis from Siyambalanduwa to Monaragala grid substation.

It is the first call for ICB post-pandemic amidst the ongoing economic crisis, sources told the Daily FT. 

The move comes after the Cabinet approved the restructuring of the debt-ridden CEB, as well as a revision of the tariff rates for renewable energy projects.

In May, Minister Wijesekera announced that the Government will launch a rapid renewable energy generation plan from June onwards, which will be executed in two quick steps, which include conversion of rooftops to solar panels and extending immediate nod to provisional approval for proposed renewable energy proposals. 

He believes that renewable energy is the way forward and will help Sri Lanka to overcome the energy crisis in the long run. The Minister recently affirmed that the CEB and Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) will be restructured, despite the strong opposition from the trade unions.

During a stakeholder consultation held last month, it was also revealed that the CEB’s accumulated revenue shortfall is at Rs. 477 billion, whilst the gross liabilities are at a staggering Rs. 612.4 billion as of May 2022.