Sri Lanka News Updates with Discussions

The proposed Coal power plant at Norochcholai which was subjected to strong criticism around 1998-2001 period has again come to the arena. Government of Sri Lanka, particularly Minister of Power and Energy has announced that the government will construct this 300 MW power plant which is the first stage of a 900 MW coal power plant also at Norochcholai, despite the opposition the proposal still generates.

300 MW plant will require 2640 MT of coal daily. A minimum of six months stock will be (2640 mt X 30 X 6 ) 475,200 MT. One meter high storage facility will require over 100 acres land or 2 m high facility require 50 acres. To suppress the coal dust due to heavy blowing using sprinklers to cover this facility will be practically an impossible task. Even if it is possible the requirement of water if taken from the ground water resource will starve the agricultural crops and even the drinking water wells will dry up in addition to seepage of seawater. Desalination of seawater for this purpose will add to the cost of production of power.