FIRST-EVER SOLID WASTE POWER PLANT WILL BE CONSTRUCTED: CHAMPIKA

Megapolis and Western Development Minister Patali Champika Ranakawa said the Megapolis and Western Development Ministry is to construct the first-ever solid waste power plant, with the installed capacity of 10-20 MWS for the national grid.the plant will use solid waste as its energy source, in a bid to find a sustainable solution to the longstanding solid waste disposal problem in the country.

Accordingly, the Megapolis and Western Development Ministry will allocate 3.5 acres of land in Meethotamulla owned by the Urban Development Authority (UDA) to the Western Power Company (Pvt) Ltd., on a 30-year lease based on the Chief Valuer’s assessment for a ‘Waste to Energy Project’, which will be a public private partnership, he said.

In response, the Company has already deposited Rs.134.8 million with the UDA, including taxes.

“Under the new Megapolis Plan of the Government, the Megapolis and Western Development Ministry expects to find a long-term solution to the Solid Waste issue, mainly in the Western Province.therefore,as part of this process, land will be allocated to the Western Power Company (Pvt) Ltd. owned by the Sri Lanka Land Reclamation and Development Corporation (SLLRDC) at Muthurajawela, Minister Ranawaka said.

Minister Ranawaka said the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) had already granted approval for the establishment of the Solid Waste Management Projects in 25 acres of land at the new development zone in Muthurajawela, adjoining existing the sand-filled zone. However, this area was still a marshland that needed filling. “It will take considerable time and cost. Besides, this land was closer to the Colombo-katunayake Expressway and Outer Circular Highway Entrance,” he added. Due to the urgency in the implementing of a project of this nature and as a solution to the garbage issue in Colombo, another land situated outside the sand-filled area was identified. The Government Chief Valuer has valued a nearby land at an avenge market value of Rs.22,55000 per perch. Based on this value, the SLLRDC has approved the allocation of the land at the same rate on a 30-year lease considering the nature of the Project and the solution we can expect for the garbage issue in Colombo.