A progress review meeting on the current progress of projects being implemented for increasing renewable energy usage up to 70% by 2030, according to the ‘Saubaghyaye Dekma’ manifesto, was held recently at the auditorium premises of the State Ministry of Solar Power, Wind and Hydropower Generation Projects Development under the patronage of State Minister Duminda Dissanayake.
Minister Dissanayake focused his attention on the progress of projects being implemented at present as well as the plans of projects to be implemented in the future.
“I thank all officials who helped in planning these projects and implementing them. According to the ‘Saubaghyaye Dekma’ when increasing renewable energy usage to 70% by 2030, we have to talk openly about obtaining renewable energy.
What is important here is not focusing attention on increasing or decreasing the amount of 70%.
Making arrangements to expedite implementing all projects that can be carried is what has to be done.”
“If no problems have arisen regarding plans of projects to be completed up to 2025, we can expedite those projects. On certain occasions although project plans have been recommended, when investors come they say that these cannot be implemented. Such things should not happen again.”
The Minister who pointed out that it is suitable to appoint a Tariff Revision Committee to implement Solar Panels Electricity Projects, instructed Secretary to the Ministry of Power Vasantha Perera to make arrangements for the appointment of this committee.
“A forecast of problems that can arise when implementing these projects has to be done. Be alert on problems that can arise in the future and take necessary steps to resolve them. Also, be responsible to carry out work while preventing shortcomings that took place previously,” the State Minister emphasized.
The need to release lands belonging to the State Lands and Forest Conservation Department which people have acquired for cultivation purposes has arisen when implementing the Siyambalaanduwa Solar Power Plant Project.
The State Minister instructed officials to reserve a day and time in the upcoming week to hold a discussion with the Minister of Forest Conservation and the Secretary to this Ministry in order to take required steps regarding this.
Secretary to the Ministry of Power Vasantha Perera, Secretary to the State Ministry of Solar Power, Wind and Hydropower Generation Projects Development Hemantha Samarakone,
Chairman of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) M. N. C. Ferdinando, Deputy Chairman of the CEB Nalinda Ilangakone, Director General of the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka Damitha Kumarasinghe, General Manager of the CEB N. W. K. Herath, State Ministry of Solar Power, Wind and Hydropower Generation Projects Development Director (Development) Sulakshana Jayawardena and a group of government officials were present on this occasion. (AK)
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