Roadmap to achieve energy security coming soon

The Government is to come up with a roadmap to achieve energy security, for which a Cabinet Sub Committee and an inter-Ministerial officials Committee have been set up.

The move follows the Cabinet recently approving a proposal to this effect by Minister of Petroleum Industries Susil Premajayantha. Accordingly short, medium and long term plans towards energy security will be drawn up.

The Cabinet Sub Committee comprises Minister Premajayantha, Power and Energy Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka, Minister of Irrigation and Water Management Nimal Siripala De Silva, Minister of Public Administration John Seneviratne, Minister of Environment Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, and Senior Minister A.H.M. Fowzie.

The inter-ministerial committee will be chaired by Power and Energy Ministry Secretary M.M.C. Ferdinando, whilst the Petroleum Industries Secretary will be the convener.

It will comprise Secretaries of Ministries of Industry and Commerce, Irrigation and Water Management and Transport, as well as representatives of Secretaries of the External Affairs Ministry and Treasury, the Central Bank Governor and heads of the Public Utility Commission, Ceylon Petroleum Corporation, CEB, Litro Gas Ltd. and Renewable Energy Authority.

The first meeting of these two committees was held on Monday under the chairmanship of Senior Minister Fowzie. The Ministry of Petroleum Industries said it intends to come up with the roadmap within four months.

Issues such as energy generation, financing, storage and distribution, policy to introduce Liquid Natural Gas (LNG), development of alternative and renewable energy, future demand and trends will be considered in preparing the roadmap.