Energy self-sufficiency has gained renewed importance among small island states such as Sri Lanka and the Maldives in the past few decades. Sri Lanka is the fourth largest electricity-producing nation in South Asia. On the other hand, there has been a revival of the Maldives energy policy which has contributed to the increase in the thermal power generating capacity in the islands.In Sri Lanka, energy necessities are met from six different types of resources. Of the total energy demands, the majority of the electricity generation capacity comes from thermal power plants. Additionally, hydropower accounts for about 45 percent of the total electricity generation in the island nation.
Hydro-Electricity
Sri Lanka is blessed with over 100 rivers and over 12,000 reservoirs that provide water for irrigation, drinking and commercial purposes. Water is a resource that is found in great abundance in the mountainous region in the south-central part of the island. After independence, these ventures were taken forward as ambitious multi-purpose schemes aimed at developing water resources for dry zone irrigation, and generation of hydropower was to create a nation that is prosperous and self-sufficient. Commenced in the 1960s, the Mahaweli Development Project (MDP) is considered to be the country’s largest multipurpose national development program covering about 38% of the nations total land area. In 1978, this project was revived as the accelerated Mahaweli Project to be completed in seven years. Moreover, there were massive grants and aid provided for the building of dams and power stations under the Mahaweli Development Project (MDP) The climatic characteristic of this part of the country has endowed Sri Lanka with a fair amount of hydro-power potential. Out of the ten-mega hydro-electricity generating plants, the one hundred twenty meter tall Victoria project with eight spill-ways and a crest length of nearly five hundred meters was the largest hydro-electric generating project in the country. It has an electricity generation capacity of nearly 200 Mega -watts (MW) of power. In the 1980s the UK granted 140 million pounds to build the Victoria Dam. Furthermore Germany and Sweden provided grants and soft loans to build the Randenigala (126-MWs) and Kotmale dams (201-MW). The Upper Kotmale Hydro-power Project is the third largest hydro-electricity producing power source. The twelve kilometer long Upper Kotmale tunnel is the longest excavated tunnel in Sri Lanka that delivers water to its powerhouse. The Samanalawewa dam with the height of almost a hundred meters with a five hundred thirty meters crest is the second-largest hydroelectric project in the country with four hundred Giga watts (GhW) of annual energy. Water is the cheapest source of renewable energy in the island nation. To get the maximum use from this source, the state is targeting to set up 600 micro hydro plants that can contribute 500 Mega-watts (MWs) of power to the national grid. As a non-conventional renewable energy source the state encourages private companies to install these mini projects, especially the 10 Mega watts (MWs) capacity mini hydro electricity plants. One of the major reservoirs completed in recent years is the Moragahakanda dam under the Moragahakanda-Kalu Ganga development project that was launched in 2007, which is incidentally the final stage of the Mahaweli development initiative.
Thermal Energy
Sri Lanka’s principal source of electricity generation comes from thermal energy. Of the major thermal energy sources, petroleum products, natural gas and coal are imported while the rest are renewable energy sources of the country. Sri Lanka’s state owns energy giant Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), and Lanka Electricity Company remains the principal players in the field with a total of over four million consumer accounts.
The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB)’s long-term Generation Expansion Plan (GEP), anticipates base load requirement to be 22,125 Giga watts (GhWh) by 2027. As such the demand for thermal energy has seen a large year-to-year increase. As new thermal energy plants come online, Sri Lanka has planned a number of large oil, gas and coal electricity generating projects, which could require private sector investment. The Oil Refinery at Sapugaskanda, commissioned in August 1969, processes about two million metric tons of light crude oil annually. The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) owns Sapugaskanda Oil Refinery, which has the capacity to produce 50,000 barrels per day. Moreover, the Kelanitissa Power Station (KPS) was the first gas and diesel powered electricity generating plant, established in the mid sixties. This plant was upgraded with 115-MW “FIAT†gas turbines to increase its capacity to 200 mega watts (MWs) of power. More recently in 2011, the Ministry of Power and Energy commissioned the country’s first 900 Mega-watts (MWhs) coal-fired power plant in Norocholai. The Kerawalapitiya power plant with three hundred megawatts of power is the latest thermal power plant that was added to the national electricity supply line in the country.
After the end of war in the South Asian island nation, a 36 Mega watts power plant was set up in Chunnakam, in the Jaffna peninsula lying in the north, ending one-and-a-half hour power cut that prevailed in the peninsula previously. The Power and Energy Ministry in Sri Lanka is rehabilitating the 150 kilometer power transmission line from Vavuniya to Chunnakam in Jaffna peninsula via Kilinochchi sub depot, to boost the availability and supply of power to Northern Province of the island. There are twelve thermal power generating plants in the country. Most of these thermal power plants have been upgraded over the past several years.
Oil and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG)
India also plays an significant role in Sri Lanka’s energy sector. In recent years, both nations have deepened their economic cooperation through public private partnership initiatives. One such Public-Private Partnership initiative implemented in 2003 was the modernising of the Trincomalee oil tank storage facility and state-owned petrol stations. Currently, Lanka India Oil Corporation (LIOC), a fully owned subsidiary of the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), runs over 160 petrol stations and 14 tanks of the Trincomalee oil tank storage facility, or the China Bay Installation. With the aim of creating an energy hub surrounding the port of Hambantota, the LAUGFS liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) Transshipment Terminal, the largest of its kind in South Asia was commenced in May 2019. Projected to reach an annual export value of $500 million. To meet Sri Lanka’s increasing energy demands, two 300- Mega-watts (MWhs) Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) power plants were under consideration, in meeting its energy policy objectives. The South Asian island nation has identified sedimentary deposits containing natural gas and oil in the Gulf of Mannar. The basin in the Indian Ocean is located in the Northern part of the country which appears to be a promising site for future gas and oil.
Other Renewable Energy Sources
The other renewable energy sources in Sri Lanka lag well behind that of hydroelectric and thermal power generation sectors. A five NEG Micon M1500-600 wind turbines were set up at Hambantota Wind Farm in South Sri Lanka to accelerate and develop power generation through wind energy. Furthermore, the Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority, constructed a solar electricity generating park in Buruthakanda in the Hambantota district to make the power generation more environment- friendly.
Maldives
Maldives is largely dependent on petroleum oil imports.Taking a step in the right direction, the Government of Maldives commissioned a state-of-the-art thermal electricity generation facility in the capital Male with a total capacity of 35,400 kilowatts (KW). The State Electric Company Ltd (STELCO) run diesel powered generator facilities were particularly noticeable from “Haa Atoll†in the Northern tip of the Maldives, to “Seenu Atoll†at the Southern end. In the Outer Islands the 2000 kilowatt (KW) plant in the Villingili islands, the 1920 kilowatts (KWs) electricity plant in the Kulhuduffushi are Maldives biggest thermal power plants owned by the State Electric Company Ltd (STELCO). More recently, electricity demand has witnessed an unprecedented rise in the islands, which is around 23600 kilowatts (KWs).
However, irrespective of these considerable achievements in the energy sector in Sri Lanka and the Maldives, there remains much to be done to improve the renewable energy policy. Given the importance of Energy self-sufficiency, that directly contributes towards the overall economic growth of Sri Lanka and the Maldives, it is vital that polices are in place to address the shortcomings prevalent in the energy sector .
Pic Courtesy-Srimal Fernando
Srimal Fernando is a Doctoral Fellow at Jindal School of International Affairs (JSIA), India and Advisor / Global Editor of Diplomatic Society for South Africa. He is the winner of the 2018/2019 ‘Best Journalist of the Year’ award in South Africa, and has been the recipient of GCA Media Award for 2016.In the field of politics, and Policy affairs, Fernando is a specialist, with over ten years of first hand experience in Sri Lanka and the Maldives.
