Sri Lanka to formulate 25 year electricity sector master plan with JICA

Apr 04, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is planning to develop a comprehensive electricity sector master plan of 25 years for the generation, transmission and distribution development for the whole country with JICA support. The project will cover the consideration of new technical challenges which Ceylon Electricity Board as an implementing organization may face by 2040. These includes expansion of non-conventional renewable energy sources, private sector participation, pumped storage power plants, optimal operation of coal thermal power plants, railway electrification and utilization of local gas and LNG. In addition, the project will also include developing optimal financial strategy which will be formulated through reviewing and analyzing of financial figures such as present tariff level, cost structure and borrowing capacity of CEB. A signing ceremony on Record of Discussion for Technical Cooperation for the Project was held recently at JICA Sri Lanka Office. The project will be implemented through Joint Study Team which will be organized by CEB experts and JICA experts. Ceylon Electricity Board which is responsible to develop, operate and maintain a stable, efficient and economical electricity supply system, has prepared mid to long term investment plans. These plans which identify future investment projects, such as power generations, transmission lines, substations and distribution network to meet the future demand projections are formulated based on the Master Plan which covers 25 years and includes elaborated electricity demand modeling and power system analysis. Any master plan needs to be reviewed and updated at least in every 10 years to meet such requirement. In this project, the latest master plan which was also formulated through the support by JICA in year 2006 will be updated by considering development in the country and the latest technologies available in the field of power system for the next 25 years. Power Ministry Secretary Dr. B.M.S Batagoda, DG of External Resources Department of National Policies and Economic Affairs Ministry R.M.P. Rathnayake, CEB General Manager M C Wickramasekara and Chief Representative of JICA Sri Lanka Kiyoshi Amada have participated the signing ceremony. JICA has been cooperating with CEB for a long time through not only technical cooperation but also ODA loans.