(LANKAPUVATH | COLOMBO) – The Cabinet of Ministers has approved a proposal put forward by the Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekera to establish a solar power plant at Sampur, Trincomalee by a joint venture company of Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) and National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC)of India.
The National Thermal Power Corporation of India and the Ceylon Electricity Board have inked an agreement last year for the joint implementation of a 135 MW solar energy project in two phases at the same site where the Sampur Coal Power Plant was planned to be built earlier.
Under the first phase of this project, it is expected to implement a 50 MW solar power project with a total investment of US$ 42.5 million and to construct a 40 km long 220 KV transmission line from Sampur to Kappalthurai at an estimated cost of US$ 23.6 million.
This phase is scheduled to be completed in 2 years from 2024 to 2025.
In phase 2 of the project, a solar power plant with an additional capacity of 85 MW is to be constructed at a total investment of US$ 72 million.
Also, it has been planned to construct a 76 km long transmission line with a capacity of 220 kilovolts from Kappalthurai to New Habarana at an estimated cost of 42 million US dollars to distribute the electricity generated under that phase 02.
Accordingly, the cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Power and Energy to take the necessary steps to implement the said project.
