Thursday Nov 21, 2024
Thursday Nov 21, 2024
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Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera
Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera yesterday spearheaded a meeting where 49 shortlisted developers of renewable energy projects convened with the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) and the Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority.
Taking to ‘X’ the Minister noted that the discussion focused on key aspects such as the approval process, implementation timelines, necessary clearances from various agencies, technical specifications and anticipated challenges in project execution.
The meeting comes as part of Sri Lanka’s ambitious goal to achieve 70% renewable energy by 2030. The Ministry of Power kick-started the initiative in 2021 by inviting Expressions of Interest (EOI) from potential investors and developers for renewable energy projects exceeding 50MW countrywide.
As per the Minister, a total of 535 project proposals were received for the EOIs and of that 430 projects were recommended to be shortlisted in 2022. After evaluating the initial requirements in 2022 and 2023, the Ministry identified 49 projects to be evaluated for approval.
“Some of the projects have already obtained provisional approvals, environment clearances, land clearances, approvals from other Government agencies, letters of intent from CEB and energy permits,” he added.
Minister Wijesekera said the Government plans to integrate all the projects that receive approvals by 2030 into the National Grid.
On Monday, the Cabinet of Ministers approved a 100 MW Ground Mount Solar Project to be developed in Oddamavadi, Batticaloa.
“The project was evaluated by the Ministry of Power and Energy from the shortlisted projects on the EOI process advertised and conducted in 2021. The developer has obtained the land clearance, EIA clearance and energy permit in 2022 and 2023. The power purchase agreement (PPA) will be entered with CEB for 20 years. Project development is to commence in 2024 and commissioned in 2025,” the Minister added.
On Tuesday, Minister Wijesekera met with top-level officials from India and the UAE to understand potential opportunities to attract investment into renewable energy projects. These include meeting with the UAE Ambassador Khaled Nasser AlAmeri and a delegation led by India’s New and Renewable Energy Ministry Secretary Bhupinder Singh Bhalla.
“Investments and opportunities in renewable energy development, and strategic energy partnerships were discussed at a meeting held with @UAEEmbColombo Khaled Nasser AlAmeri. UAE has shown rapid development in renewable energy and energy sector developments in recent times and we discussed the possibility of organising a platform to attract suitable UAE investors to visit Sri Lanka to understand the potential and opportunities available for investment,” Wijesekera posted via ‘X’.
He added that the Indian delegation led by New and Renewable Energy Ministry Secretary Bhalla was to discuss possible investments and engage with renewable energy stakeholders and officials of Sri Lanka.
Bhalla was in town to participate in the three-day ‘Energising India-Sri Lanka ties through Cooperation in Renewable Energy’ visit.
During their meeting, renewable energy cooperation between the two countries, capacity-building programs, technology transfer, investments, opportunities and policies related to the sector were discussed.
Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha, New and Renewable Energy Ministry Joint Secretary (Solar) Dinesh Dayanand Jagdale, Central Electricity Authority of India Chief Engineer Rakesh Goyal, Scientist (Wind) Prabir Kumar Dash, New and Renewable Energy Ministry officials and Indian High Commission’s officials also attended the meeting.
