Press briefing of Cabinet Decision taken on 2023-03-27

Establishment of a Solar Power Plant at Sampur, Trincomalee by a Joint Venture Company of the Ceylon Electricity Board and the National Thermal Power Corporation of India

- An agreement has been reached by the National Thermal Power Corporation of India and the Ceylon Electricity Board to implement a Solar Power Plant of 135 MW jointly in two phases at the same location where the Coal Power Plant at Sampur was scheduled to be constructed. Under phase 01 of this Project, it is expected to develop a 50 MW Solar Power Plant project with a total investment of US$ 42.5 million and to construct a 220 kV transmission line of 40 km length from Sampur to Kappalthurai at an estimated cost of US$ 23.6 million. This phase is scheduled to be completed in 2 years from 2024 to 2025. In phase 02 of the Project, a Solar Power Plant with an additional capacity of 85 MW will be constructed at a total investment of US$ 72 million. Further, it has been planned to construct a transmission line of 76 km length transmission line with a capacity of 220 KW from Kappalthurai to New Habarana at an estimated cost of US$ 42 million to distribute the electricity generated under phase 02. Accordingly, the proposal made by the Minister of Power and Energy to take the necessary steps to implement the said Project, was approved by the Cabinet.