Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera told Parliament yesterday (4) that the Government’s goal is to produce 3,000 MW of solar power and 1,000 MW of wind power in the next two years. The Minister said that under this system, the goal of providing 70 percent renewable electricity can be achieved and it will be possible to reduce the electricity bill and reduce the cost of producing electricity.
The Minister said this replying Gampaha District Samagi Jana Balawegaya MP Ajith Mannapperuma. The Minister also said that the Investment Promotion Ministry and the Power Ministry have focused on a project to produce 4,000 megawatts of solar power and wind power together. The relevant Cabinet paper is expected to be forwarded to Cabinet within the next two weeks.
Although various districts including Colombo receive rainfall, the areas where there are hydroelectric power plants do not receive the required rainfall. Therefore, the rainfall is not enough to generate electricity. Today, a serious problem has arisen regarding electricity in the country. The existing power plants have to incur high costs. We should have removed such thermal power plants about 20 years ago. The Government has focused on this. Especially power plant projects like Sampur have been suspended due to policy decisions taken by the then Governments. Globally, a policy decision has been taken not to rebuild coal power plants. The Government hopes to complete the construction work of the Sobadanavi power plant by the coming month of May.
In terms of long-term plans, attention has been paid to construct wind power plants in Poonareyn and Mannar together with Adani. Permission has been given for the construction of wind power plants in Siyambalanduwa and Batticaloa. Apart from this, the Sampur power plant is expected to start working by next week and in the first phase, 50 megawatts of electricity will be produced from solar power. The Government does not have the strength to give money to people to get solar panels. But after receiving the IMF’s second tranche, it is expected to provide such concessions at low interest on the loan assistance.
Ishara Mudugamuwa