HE. Mahinda Rajapaksa launches power plan

Post date: Apr 1, 2011 6:17:38 AM

The first phase of a Chinese-built coal power plant at Norocholai on the western coast of Sri Lanka was inaugurated by His Excellency President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Tuesday the 22nd March. The 300 MW plant is the second major infrastructure project built with Chinese finance and engineers to be opened in the island nation since the end of 2010; the first phase of a port at the southern town of Hambantota was inaugurated in November by President Rajapaksa.

The power plant, built by China National Machinery Import and Export Corporation with a 450 million US dollar loan from China's EXIM Bank, will eventually be expanded to 900 MW.

The induction of the plant is likely to help power generation grow by 11%. President Rajapaksa has promised that the remaining 600 MW will be integrated with the national grid by 2014.

Read the rest of the article