Siemens to upgrade power supply system in Colombo

Siemens Energy division has received an order from Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), Sri Lanka's state power supply utility for the modernization and up gradation of the medium-voltage distribution network of the country's capital, Colombo. This order is valued at around EUR 31 million (approx LKR 5 billion) and is Siemens' largest order till date in the country.

Colombo's power supply system is being modernized and expanded in order to meet the increasingly high standards required for the city's power supply.

This will ensure that the over 600,000 inhabitants living in the port city, which covers an area of more than 37 square kilometers on the west coast of Sri Lanka, will have a reliable supply of energy in the future too.

As a part of the Colombo City Electricity Distribution Development Project, Siemens' Energy sector has received LKR 5 billion worth order from Ceylon Electricity Board for upgrading and modernizing the Electricity Distribution Network of the city.

Siemens scope of work includes the augmentation of a 33/11kV substation, supply, installation and commissioning of 390 air insulated Medium Voltage switchgear bays, 40 Compact substations, 50 Ring main units and 72 Low voltage distribution switchgear from their world class manufacturing facilities in India as well as Germany; apart from the supply and laying of over 200 kilometers of Cables.

In addition, Siemens will train technical personnel locally and also ensure that regular power supply is maintained during the implementation of the network conversion project.

Commenting on the order, Managing Director, Siemens Ltd., Dr. Armin Bruck, as well as the Cluster CEO for South Asia, said, "This is a prestigious order for Siemens as it provides us an opportunity to participate in strengthening the growing Power Transmission and Distribution sector in Sri Lanka.

This project is indeed very crucial to Ceylon Electricity Board and we are confident that with our vast international experience and proven expertise in this area, we will be able to implement this challenging project on time." On awarding this prestigious project to Siemens, D.R. Pullaperuma, General Manager

Ceylon Electricity Board said that the project also has the ability to give more power for commercial and industrial consumers without any restrictions. Additionally, the modern technology of SCADA will help in minimizing the restoration time followed by reduction in technical losses."

Siemens' South Asia Cluster comprises of countries that include India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan as well as Maldives and is a part of the 20 regional clusters defined by Siemens AG across the globe.