Power Minister plans to set up over 1200 mini solar power plants in Kurunegala district
Colombo: Minister of Power Dullas Alahapperuma says over 1200 mini solar power plants will be set up in Kurunegala district to provide 100 percent electricity to the district.
Addressing the Kurunegala District Meeting of the series of Rural Economic Infrastructure Development Committee meetings held island wide at the district level recently at the Kurunegala District Secretariat, the Minister said 1218 transformers capable of setting up 100 KW small solar power plants in the Kurunegala District have been identified.
The Minister noted that although there are 482,887 houses in the district, only 753 have rooftop solar power plants currently generating only 12 Megawatt (MW).
He said the Kurunegala District has been given the largest share of the project setting up mini power plants using these transformers, which has been given a priority in this year’s budget proposals.
“Accordingly, the Kurunegala district will become the main district that generates electricity from solar power. Although the electrification in this district is 98%, there are still 4668 houses without electricity. I am confident that by the end of this year, there will not be a single house in this district without electricity,” said Dullas Alahapperuma, Minister of Power.
Speaking further, Minister Alahapperuma noted that since the Norochcholai power plant was added to the national system in 2013, no major system has been added to the power grid and only about 300 megawatts of solar and small hydro power plants have been added.
“The non-integration of a major power plant into the national grid for seven years is a major crisis. This is not something that happened due to a fault or need of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB). We have to take the power sector forward covering that history. That is why we are working to move to add the two LNG power plants as soon as possible.”
The Minister said steps will be taken to commence construction work on one LNG power plant by next month and tenders will be called for the other power plant within the next two weeks.
“Nothing can be done instantly. We are achieving everything step by step. Therefore, never point a finger at the CEB saying that these things have happened at the expense of the CEB,” he told the officials.
Under the guidance of the Prime Minister, in accordance with the government’s policy of Visions of Prosperity, at the special request of Minister Johnston Fernando a policy decision has been taken to establish a Deputy General Manager’s Zone dedicated to the Kurunegala District for the convenience of electricity consumers as well as a reliable supply of quality electricity, the Minister said.
He said that it shows how sensitive the new government is towards the electricity problems of the people. He also said that a policy decision will be taken in collaboration with the Ministry of Highways regarding the repair work to be carried out on the roads during the relocation of electricity poles in the district.
Source : colombopage
