News
Regulator refuses approval for Adani wind power project
The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) has refused approval to award procurement of the 484 MW wind power plant in Mannar and Pooneryn to Adani Green Energy SL Ltd. (AGESL), saying the information submitted to it by the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) was not adequate to assess least cost and technical compatibility.
A letter from the power sector regulator to the CEB’s Acting General Manager, a copy of which was obtained by the Sunday Times, shows that even basic information—such as the full draft power purchase agreement (PPA) between the CEB and AGESL—has not been handed over.
The CEB has requested PUCSL permission to award the power plants to AGESL under the Sri Lanka Electricity Act. However, it has failed to submit the schedules of the draft PPA, the signed memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Government of India, and clearance granted by the Attorney General’s Department to sign such an MoU following Cabinet approval in March last year. Cabinet approval was given on March 7, 2022. The MoU was signed four days later, on March 11.
Among other details, the basis for declaring the same “plant factor” for both locations—Mannar and Pooneryn—has also not been made available to the regulator.
The procurement details for the construction of the 400kV transmission line from Kilinochchi to Habarana and the related cost-recovery mechanism too are missing, along with information regarding bid values received for the tender called for the 50 MW wind power plant in Mannar, situated in close proximity to the Adani project.
Even the results of the environmental impact assessment (EIA) and details of the environmental licence issued by the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) were not submitted, the PUCSL letter shows. “The above informations [sic] and justifications shall be submitted to the Commission to process the approval…” it states.
The best way to say that you found the home of your dreams is by finding it on Hitad.lk. We have listings for apartments for sale or rent in Sri Lanka, no matter what locale you're looking for! Whether you live in Colombo, Galle, Kandy, Matara, Jaffna and more - we've got them all!