Sri Lanka taps India's NTPC to set up 2nd coal-fired plant

India's NTPC will be developing Srilanka’s second coal based plant at Trincomalee.

Sri Lanka’s state-run Ceylon Electricity Board and NTPC signed an agreement to set Trincomalee – Sampur Coal Power Project as a 50:50 joint venture worth up to US $700 million.

“We have not yet come to the exact cost as yet, but it will be around $700 million,” NTPC Chairman and Managing Director Arup Roy Choudhury said after signing the agreement.

CEB and NTPC will invest US $250 million each for the 500-megawatt coal power plant. The plant will be of 500 Mw capacity and is expected to be commissioned by 2016.

According to the agreement, the infrastructure required for the project including the ports for ensuring fuel supply will be the responsibility of the Srilankan government.  The plant will comprise of 2X250 Mw generation capacity.  The annual coal requirement for the plant is around 1.4 million tonnes. The power plant is expected to use coal that complies with national environmental regulations and other international guidelines. The main cooling water system will be using sea water.