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Wednesday Nov 06, 2024
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Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera
In a significant development for renewable energy in Sri Lanka, Indian business tycoon, Gautam Adani has pledged to complete the 500 MW solar and wind power project in Mannar and Pooneryn by January 2025.
The commitment from Gautam Adani to complete the 500 MW Solar and Wind project by January 2025 is expected to have a transformative impact on Sri Lanka’s renewable energy landscape. Once operational, this sizeable project will contribute significantly to the country’s efforts to transition to cleaner and more sustainable energy sources.
This was conveyed to a delegation led by Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe during a meeting in India last week.
Taking to Twitter Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekara announced the positive outcome of the meeting, where several crucial agreements and permits were reached to strengthen the renewable energy sector in the island nation. Among them were Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) on Renewable Energy Cooperation and Trincomalee Energy hub development.
The meeting also witnessed the issuance of an energy permit for the Sampur Solar Park, signalling the commencement of work on this project. The Sampur Solar Park is a joint venture between the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) of Sri Lanka and NTPC (National Thermal Power Corporation) of India.
Additionally, the discussions with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Droupadi Murmu, and other senior Government officials and investors touched upon several crucial topics, including India-Sri Lanka grid connectivity, Green Hydrogen initiatives, oil pipeline connectivity, and energy sector investments.
Analysts said the collaborative efforts between Sri Lanka and India in the energy sector are indicative of the growing cooperation between the two neighbouring countries in addressing the challenges of climate change and energy security. “The agreements and permits reached during this meeting are poised to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy technologies and strengthen energy ties between the two nations,” they added.