The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of Japan will provide assistance to Sri Lanka to improve the nation's power transmission system and to expand rural electrification, and thus will contribute toward the government's goal of widening public access to electricity services from 80% to 98% by 2016, the bank said this week.
The Sustainable Power Sector Support technical assistance (TA) project is funded by the Government of Japan through the Japan Special Fund (JSF) that is administered by ADB.
The JSF is extending a grant of $ 800,000 for the project while the Sri Lankan government will provide $200,000 in kind contribution for TA implementation.
“The technical assistance will utilize low-cost design and comprehensive feasibility studies for strengthening transmission system in the Southern, Eastern, and Northern parts of the country. It will also address rural electrification improvements including in the Eastern province," said Mukhtor Khamudkhanov, Senior Energy Specialist of ADB’s South Asia Department.
Richard Vokes, Country Director of ADB's Sri Lanka Resident Mission, said power sector development is critical to Sri Lanka's post war development. “We hope this project will lend strong support to the government in addressing a number of urgent priorities in the power sector, particularly in driving crucial improvements in energy efficiency, reliability and access to meet the country's rapidly growing demands," he said. |
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