Sri Lanka has reached the national electrification ratio of 94%, which is a substantial improvement in the power sector compared with electrification level of 70% by end of 2005. The Ministry has launched an ag- gressive electricity grid extension program to reach 100% electricity access to entire population, at all times, in the country by end of 2012. In order to achieve this target, a separate project for each of the Provinces was established with financial assistance from international lending organizations and with GOSL funding. During the year until 30th September 2012, 227,913 new electricity supply connections were established with the completion of 585 new rural electrification schemes and 4278 extensions.
A number of new transmission projects have been initiated during 2010-2012 with financial assistance from ADB and JICA, in order to enable the evacuation of power from new generation facilities, ensure the reli- ability and quality of electricity supply, and to integrate renewable sources into the grid. The transmission projects initiated during this period included construction of 475.5km of new 220kV lines, 629km of 132 kV lines, 26 of new 220 and 132 Sub-Stations and rehabilitation of 23 Sub-Stations. Special emphasis was given to improve the reliability of transmission network of Northern and Eastern Provinces.
To improve the reliability and to maintain a quality of electricity supply in the distribution network, new projects were initiated to enhance the 33 kV medium voltage network in the country while improving the quality of low voltage distribution network. Special emphasis was given to reduce the system losses. The overall system losses were reduced to 13.9% by 2012 compared with 24 % in 2005.
To ensure the generation capacity of the system with 3500 MW by 2012 and 6400 MW by 2025 and to re- duce the generation cost by adding aggregate base load capacity of 2000 MW of coal fired power plants, the generation capacity of the system was enhanced. The phase I (300MW) of the first Coal Power Plant of
900MW in the country was commissioned in March 2011 adding 300 MW to the system. The second phase of Puttalum LakWijeya power plant with 600 MW of capacity is under construction. The first 300 MW of Putta- lama Lakvijaya Plant Phase II is scheduled to commission in October 2013 and the second 300 MW of Phase II will be available from May 2014. The 150 MW Upper Kothmale Plant commenced its commercial operation in July 2012. The construction of Uma Oya Hydro Power projects of 120MW is in progress and scheduled to commission by 2014. In order to meet the power demand and to strengthen the reliability of the power system in the Northern Province, construction of a heavy fuel operated power plant of 25MW in Jaffna is in progress and will commence its commercial operation by end of 2012 .
In addition above projects, early implementation of Broadlands Hydro Power Project with 35MW and detailed feasibility of Moragolla Hydro Power Project 27MW were pursued by the Ministry during the year. The total electricity generation from 1st January up to 30th October 2012 was 11528 GWh, of which 59% was
from oil burning and coal thermal power plants while 35% from major hydro power and the balance 6% was from on-conventional renewable energy sources.
In order to meet the Government objective of meeting 10% of electricity generation through non- conventional renewable energy resources by 2015, the development of small non-conventional renewable energy plants below 10 MW capacities were promoted under Standardized Power Purchase Agreement (SPPA). During 2010-2012 period 116 plants with aggregated capacity of 275MW were connected to the grid. These plants included 214 MW of Mini Hydro, 45 MW of Wind Power, 1.2 MW of Solar Energy and 11 MW Dendro Power.
In addition to the promotion of large scale grid connected renewable energy projects, net metering was introduced in Sri Lanka for promotion of distributed small PV applications and other renewable sources, where customers would be able to generate small amounts of renewable energy through solar PV systems installed on their roof tops, ‘export’ the energy generated to the national grid, and only pay for the ‘net’ amount of electricity used.
With the extension of national grid throughout the country the demand for off-grid systems reduced drastically. However the Ministry initiated a program to provide electricity through off-grid renewable sources to very remote villages and inhabited islands. Further, the Ministry took steps to connect the community- based micro-hydro power plants, which were operated as off-grid plants and got redundant as a result of grid extension. The first plant with a capacity of 20 kW was connected to the national grid encouraging the people living in the hilly areas to tap the hydro potential in their surroundings and exporting it to the national grid while generating an income for the poor villagers.
The Ministry has placed very high priority on electricity demand management and efficient use of energy as a cost-effective, environmentally sound complement to capacity-addition strategies in power. The National Energy Management Plan was introduced for Sri Lanka covering a period of 5 years from 2012 to 2016. It will serve as a guide for Sustainable Energy Authority (SLSEA) to embark on an integrated and cohesive programme of work with a long term perspective to realize better energy efficiency in all energy consuming sectors of Sri Lanka. In addition to the consumer awareness programs, regulation on appointment of energy manager/energy auditor and energy consumption reporting for large industrial consumers, minimum energy standards and energy labeling for commonly use appliances were introduced.
Their Vision
Energy security of the nation is assured.
Their Mission
Provide quality, reliable, sustainable and affordable energy for economic prosperity of the Nation
