UPDATE: Plans have to be made to generate 70 percent of the country’s electricity demand through renewable energy sources by 2030, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said.
The President made this observation chairing a meeting at the Presidential Secretariat to discuss the future plans of the Solar Power, Wind and Hydro Power Generation Projects Development State Ministry.
The President pointed out the renewable energy sources must be utilized to a maximum capacity to achieve sustainable development. The President directed his Secretary to issue a Circular to all institutions to support the promotion of renewable energy.
The President stressed that the Government must provide incentives to private entrepreneurs to start solar or wind power projects and remove all obstacles for them.
Observing the need to promptly process the project applications, the President said if there had been no response within 14 days, it would be better to consider such projects as approved. He asked to cancel the permit, if a project, to which a tender has been awarded, did not commence within three months.
Economic Revival Presidential Task Force Head Basil Rajapaksa pointed out the possibility of installing solar panels in close proximity to 5,000 irrigational renovation project sites. He said it would be appropriate to award contracts for renewable energy projects only to the entrepreneurs of that respective district.
The possibility to fix solar panels in schools, factories and government institutions and offer a share of the profit to those institutions was also looked into. The Government aims at generating considerable units of power through wind power plants in Mannar, Pooneryn and Siyambalanduwa.
All countries now prefer renewable energy over coal or fossil fuel. The country’s annual growth of power demand is six percent. The power demand will rise sharply when the development projects are accelerated.
Power Minister Dullas Alahapperuma and State Minister Duminda Dissanayake participated in the meeting.
Electricity demand will be generated using renewable energy by 2030-Time:14:20
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa directed that the plans should be devised to meet 70% of the country’s electricity demand using renewable energy sources by the year 2030, stated the President's Media Division.
Due to climatic changes, all countries across the globe are inclined towards the usage of renewable sources of energy abandoning fossil fuels such as coal and petroleum.
The annual increment demand for electricity is at 6%. It has been calculated that following the launch of Development Projects electricity demand will further increased.
“We should harness renewable energy sources as much as possible for our future generations to experience a sustainable development” President highlighted.
President Rajapaksa made these comments during a discussion with the State Ministry of Solar, Wind and Hydro Power Generation Projects Development at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday.
President emphasized that institutes with the authority to approve Development Projects should have feasibility reports stand by and the approval process should be expedited. President added that if approval is sought for a certain project, approval should be granted within 14 days and if it exceeds 14 days it could be considered as a sign of approval.
The Government has made the promotion of renewable energy a top priority. President advised the Secretary to the President to issue a gazette calling for all the institutes to assist in this endeavour.
The President said that if all the projects selected through the tender process are not commenced within three months, the license will be revoked.
Basil Rajapaksa, Head of the Presidential Task Force on Economic Revival, pointed out the possibility of installing solar panels as part of the 5,000 irrigation schemes earmarked for renovation. He further said that it was appropriate to give solar energy power projects only to entrepreneurs in the relevant districts as well as to grant a certain percentage of the profits to farmers' associations.
The focus was also on the possibility of installing solar panels on the roofs of schools, factories and government buildings and the possibility of giving a portion of the profits to the relevant institutions. In particular, attention was drawn to explore the possibility of installing solar panels on the roofs of schools, factories and government buildings and the possibility of giving a portion of the profits to the relevant institutions.
The construction of Windfarms in Mannar, Pooneryn and Siyambalanduwa is aimed at adding a significant percentage of renewable energy to the national grid.
The President also stressed that the government should do all it can to encourage independent entrepreneurs to start wind or solar power projects.
Minister Dullas Alahapperuma, State Minister Duminda Dissanayake, Secretary to the President P.B. Jayasundera, Secretaries to Cabinet and State Ministries, Heads of Line Institutions and Entrepreneurs in the Energy Sector were also present at the discussion.
