NPP Govt. dreams nuclear energy, yet treads cautiously over geopolitics involved

Colombo, July 2 (Daily Mirror) - Sri Lanka, under the new government led by the National People’s Power (NPP) has identified nuclear power in its generation plan while phasing out coal power plants, Daily Mirror learns.

The previous government identified nuclear energy as a clean and green energy source to meet electricity demand. In March 2024, the Sri Lankan Cabinet committed the country to a nuclear power programme.

Under the new government, nuclear energy has been identified as a reliable and clean energy source. According to the generation plan for 2025-2044, nuclear energy is viewed as a pathway towards full decarbonization of the electricity sector in the future.

While nuclear projects are highly capital-intensive, they become increasingly viable as one of the few remaining options for achieving carbon neutrality. However, the development of nuclear power requires a significant lead time, involving careful negotiations with all stakeholders and securing public acceptance of the technology. This long gestation period is essential to ensure that the project aligns with environmental goals and societal expectations, according to the Ceylon Electricity Board.

In the development of nuclear energy, Sri Lanka, however, has to navigate intricacies of international politics since the countries with competing interests such as Russia, the United States, China and France had offered to assist in investment in this regard.

Russia made the proposal earlier for such an investment. Rosatom (Russian State–run Atomic Energy Corporation) remains ready to hold further negotiations in this regard.

The initial idea is to set up a small nuclear power plant of 110 megawatts- two blocks each with 55 megawatts. Russia has already invested in India and Bangladesh in the energy sector.

According to the generation plan, Sri Lanka plans to maintain 70 percent from renewable energy from 2030 onwards, with 500 MW HVDC interconnection, with nuclear power additions.

The new government has not yet worked out measures for the development of legal infrastructure for nuclear energy development.