27 December 2011 05:01 pm
The feasibility study was conducted jointly by the authorities concerned of the two countries to seek the possibility for inter-connectivity of grids. The report has now been submitted to the Ministry.
Mr. Ranawaka who is the Power and Energy Minister said that it would not be cost-effective for both countries to exchange power.
“We have a long term plan for energy generation. According to the plan, there are cost options which we are looking at. It is not economically feasible for us to purchase 500 Mega Watts of electricity from India by linking the two grids,” he said.
However, the Minister said that the inter-connectivity of grids of the South Asian countries would be feasible in future for the tapping of green energy sources in the countries. He said that the Asian Development Bank had carried out a study and furnished a comprehensive report in this regard.
“They have identified the potential for wind power generation in Sri Lanka and Tamil Nadu, and for hydropower in Bhutan and Nepal. In the evacuation of such green energy to be generated, it will be economically viable to have inter-connected grids in the SAARC region,” he said.
The Power Ministry is expected to complete the feasibility study for putting in place infrastructure for inter-connectivity of grids between India and Sri Lanka to allow smooth exchange of power between the two neighbours.
The project was to seek the possibility of exchanging nearly 1000 MW of power between the two countries.
The two countries signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for this feasibility study in June 2010. The agreement, on ground, was signed between the state-run Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL) and Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) of Sri Lanka. (Kelum Bandara)