By: Staff Writer
March 14, Colombo (LNW): India and Sri Lanka held discussions on the progress of cooperation in the field of Renewable Energy at the Joint Working Group on Renewable Energy inaugural Meeting in Colombo.
The Indian side agreed to extend all possible technical assistance to the Government of Sri Lanka in the areas of solar, wind, biomass and grid connection by offering trainings in premier Indian institutions such as National Institute of Solar Energy, National Institute of Wind Energy and National Institute of Bio Energy
The Joint Working Group (JWG) on Renewable Energy was established under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Cooperation in the field of Renewable Energy in July 2023, convened in Colombo.
Co-chaired by Shri Bhupinder Singh Bhalla, Secretary of India’s Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, and Dr. Sulakshana Jayawardena, Secretary of Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Power and Energy, the meeting aimed to bolster bilateral collaboration in renewable energy initiatives.
During the meeting, the Indian delegation gave detailed presentation on India’s achievements in the renewable energy sector, citizen-centric schemes offered by the Government of India to encourage investments in the renewable energy sector, the National Green Hydrogen Mission and India’s cross border electricity trade.
The Sri Lankan side highlighted the present status of the power sector in Sri Lanka and the contribution of renewables in the energy mix.
Secretary informed that since the Government of Sri Lanka was working towards achieving an ambitious target of 70% generation through renewable energy by 2030, there existed vast potential for investments by Indian companies.
Meanwhile Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera yesterday spearheaded a meeting where 49 shortlisted developers of renewable energy projects convened with the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) and the Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority.
As per the Minister, a total of 535 project proposals were received for the EOIs and of that 430 projects were recommended to be shortlisted in 2022. After evaluating the initial requirements in 2022 and 2023, the Ministry identified 49 projects to be evaluated for approval.
On Monday, the Cabinet of Ministers approved a 100 MW Ground Mount Solar Project to be developed in Oddamavadi, Batticaloa. The power purchase agreement (PPA) will be entered with CEB for 20 years. Project development is to commence in 2024 and commissioned in 2025,” the Minister added.
On Tuesday, Minister Wijesekera met with top-level officials from India and the UAE to understand potential opportunities to attract investment into renewable energy projects.
These include meeting with the UAE Ambassador Khaled Nasser AlAmeri and a delegation led by India’s New and Renewable Energy Ministry Secretary Bhupinder Singh Bhalla.
