Sri Lanka is calling for International Competitive Bidding for a 50MW Wind Farm facility in Mannar.

However, this move comes against the backdrop of vigorous opposition from environmental experts regarding the proposed 250-megawatt wind power plant in the same area.

The Ceylon Electricity Board has invited proposal for the development of a 50 MW Wind Farm Facility in Mannar.

The newspaper advertisement published by the CEB notes that the Ceylon Electricity Board will also enter into a 20 year power purchase agreement with respect to this project.

India’s Adani Green Energy was granted permission for a 250 MW wind power project in Mannar, Sri Lanka. Notably, this approval was granted without a tender process.

While environmental concerns surround the project, a critical issue emerges: the cost of purchasing electricity. 

The Ceylon Electricity Board’s engineers have indicated that they will procure a unit of electricity from the Mannar wind power plant at a rate of 14 US cents, which roughly translates to 46 rupees.

In contrast, Kanchana Wijesekera, the Minister of Power and Energy, recently revealed that a unit from the Adani wind power plant will be purchased at a lower rate—approximately 9 cents or 30 rupees.

The electricity trade unions have highlighted a critical issue: the minister’s decision to purchase electricity at 30 rupees per unit, rather than the originally proposed 46 rupees, without the inclusion of the battery system in the power plant.

Their argument centers around the potential challenges of maintaining the system if the power plant is constructed without the battery infrastructure. Without this essential component, the electricity board could face operational difficulties.

In light of this, if the Ceylon Electricity Board proceeds with purchasing electricity from the Adani Wind Power Plant at the reduced rate of 30 rupees, they will need to independently install a battery system in the vicinity of the power plant.