Sunday Observer: 11/12/2005"
The demand for power will grow at 7.6 percent per year reaching 7.619 MW in the year 2025, an increase of over 400 percent over the current demand according to the findings of a study undertaken by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) since January last year.
The study titled "Master Plan Study on the Development Power Generation and Transmission System in Sri Lanka" says an additional generation capacity of 7,615 MW needs to be installed in the next 20 years. In order to carry out the necessary construction of power plants the study points to the need for increased investments in the power sector. It also calls for restructuring of the CEB to improve its finances and the introduction of a better tariff adjustment mechanism.
Referring to the construction of proposed Norochcholai and Kerawalapitiya power plants the study says any delays will lead to serious negative consequences including blackouts and sharp hikes in power tariff.
A stakeholder meeting last week held at the Trans Asia Hotel, Colombo discussed the findings of the study. Meanwhile, the JICA and the CEB will be handing over their final report to the government in February 2006.
The demand for power will grow at 7.6 percent per year reaching 7.619 MW in the year 2025, an increase of over 400 percent over the current demand according to the findings of a study undertaken by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) since January last year.
The study titled "Master Plan Study on the Development Power Generation and Transmission System in Sri Lanka" says an additional generation capacity of 7,615 MW needs to be installed in the next 20 years. In order to carry out the necessary construction of power plants the study points to the need for increased investments in the power sector. It also calls for restructuring of the CEB to improve its finances and the introduction of a better tariff adjustment mechanism.
Referring to the construction of proposed Norochcholai and Kerawalapitiya power plants the study says any delays will lead to serious negative consequences including blackouts and sharp hikes in power tariff.
A stakeholder meeting last week held at the Trans Asia Hotel, Colombo discussed the findings of the study. Meanwhile, the JICA and the CEB will be handing over their final report to the government in February 2006.
