Loans to China for Norochcholai plant now repaid

- Aug 12, 2016

All loans to China in lieu of the Lakvijaya coal power plant at Norochcholai have now been paid, said minister Sarath Amunugama.

Speaking to the media at the SLFP headquarters, he said the power ministry has made the announcement.

Norochcholai is the first coal power plant in the country that began construction on 11 May 2006.

Its second and third phases to generate 600 mw of electricity began on 16 September 2014.

According to the CEB, it will produce 1.7 tw of power annually, out of the national requirement of 11.5 tw.

However, area residents say the Norochcholai power plant has created many health and environmental issues for them.

The coal dust leads to respiratory illnesses while the ashes have become an environmental hazard, they say.

It is now common to see the area’s vegetable cultivation being covered by a black dust.

Deputy minister Ajith P. Perera has told the media that the three generators at the plant had broken down on 58 different occasions.

Those breakdowns and the non-supply of coal as required led to the plant being closed for 271 days so far.
- Sri Lanka Mirror