Energy supply in Sri Lanka moves to the private sector, individual users
The Government while acknowledging that the cost of power is the highest in the world in Sri Lanka is stepping away from its role of producing electricity hereafter leaving it in the hands of the private sector.
These revelations were made by Ajith P. Perera, Deputy Minister of Power and Renewable Energy at the launch of second round of the Green Energy Champion, Sri Lanka Initiative held in Colombo last week.
The Green Energy Champion first phase was successfully completed in which 700,000 people were reached with energy saving tips and background information on renewable energy. Ananda College Colombo was declared as the winner of the first country-wide competition for their holistic approach to energy efficiency.
Mr. Perera said that the energy price and the quality of the power supply affects the economy of the country and the very high cost of energy in this country has become a big concern in the economy. “When we have the best sources for solar energy and wind power energy it is shame for our country to have very high energy prices in the world,” he said.
He said that the world is facing a huge crisis with regard to energy and energy conservation and also the global warming and climate change and here in Sri Lanka, he said adding that the country has recorded the highest temperature in the last three years.
He said that though Sri Lanka is a small country, this country also faces the same problems faced by the world with regard to an energy crisis, global warming and climate change. He said that they look at the energy problem not only from environmental perspective but as a problem with regard to the country’s economic development.
He said that while the government’s intention is conserving the environment and developing the economy through steady energy supply, it also strives to maintain low energy costs to users which is not easy.
Today, hydro power (using water) sources have been exhausted and focus is now on solar power and wind power sources to be supplied at low cost using new technology.
He said that 125 megawatt (MW) wind power energy is available in the country while another 100 MW power is obtained by solar power. During the past nine months after launching the solar power energy, there is 68 megawatt power by rooftop fixed solar panels and another 50 megawatt from five solar panel power producing units.
He said that the government has given all the guidelines to the Ceylon Electricity Board to obtain power and energy from the private sector and said that the government would not hereafter invest in producing power but only in infrastructure while entrusting the responsibility of supplying power by the private sector obtained on a tender procedure basis.
The German Federal Foreign Office together with The Ministry of Power and Renewable Energy of Sri Lanka and the projecting implementing partner Deutsche Gesellschaft for Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmmbH and Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority are working closely to make Sri Lanka’s energy transition a success.
John Rohde, Ambassador for Germany in Sri Lanka and Maldives and Ms. Randa Kourieh –Ranarivelo, GIZ Country Director for Sri Lanka and Maldives also spoke at the event.