United National Party (UNP) said last week they would recommence work to build a thermal power station at Kerewelapitiya abandoning the west coast coal power plant option. Government, that secured Chinese help to build a key base load coal power plant in Puttlam plans to sign the deal by the 10th of this month and break ground five days later.
However, if elected a UNP government plans to do U turn on this and build a combined cycle power plant at Kerewelapitiya to meet base load needs.
A combined cycle plant that replaces coal as a fuel option is likely to make electricity even more expensive than it already is.
Earlier, plans for a 300 MWh plant at Kerewelapitiya were abandoned recently after the bidders lost interest due to government inaction.
Cabinet appointed negotiating committee, that was handling the Kerewelapitiya thermal power plant, recommends that current bids be abandoned after a Korean bidder pulled out due to delays in awarding a contract.
Bidders were expected to