Jica-backed electricity master plan presented to NEC
A presentation on the final report titled ‘The Project on Electricity Sector Master Plan Study’ was held at the National Economic Council (NEC) chaired by President Maithripala Sirisena recently.
The key ministers in the Cabinet, including Minister of Finance and Mass Media, Minister of Power and Renewable Energy and the secretaries of those ministries were also present at the council meeting.
The presentation was made by Noboru Seki, the Team Leader of the Master Plan Study team. Kenichi Suganuma – Ambassador for Japan and Fusato Tanaka – Chief representative of JICA Sri Lanka were also attend at the meeting held at the President’s Office in Colombo.
The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), which is responsible for developing, operating and maintaining a stable, efficient and economical electricity supply system, prepares mid to long-term investment plans.
These plans which identify future investment projects, such as power generations, transmission lines, substations and distribution network to meet the future demand projections are formulated based on the master plan which covers 25 years and includes elaborated electricity demand modeling and power system analysis. Any master plan needs to be reviewed and updated at least in every 10 years to meet such requirement. With this Master Plan completed in March 2018, the latest master plan which was also formulated through the support by JICA in year 2006 has been updated by considering development in the country and the latest technologies available in the field of power system for the next 25 years.
The Jica-supported master plan has developed a comprehensive plan of 25 years for the generation, transmission and distribution development for the whole country.
The master plan covers the consideration of new technical challenges which CEB as an implementing organization may face by 2040, such as expansion of non-conventional renewable energy sources, private sector participation, optimal operation of thermal power plants and utilization of local gas and LNG.
The long term power development plan was examined in terms of three factors: cost, environment and energy security. JICA supported Master Plan recommends the best mix scenario which include various power sources in a balanced way.
Similar scenarios have been endorsed in the recently approved energy policy by the Cabinet and the latest Least Cost Long Term Generation Expansion Plan (LCLTGEP) of Ceylon Electricity Board.