Second coal power plant coming up at Sampur

The Power and Energy Ministry has decided to build the second 1000 MW coal power plant at Sampur in Trincomalee.Sampur, where the LTTE’s military and political headquarters for the East was located was liberated by the government troops recently.Minister John Seneviratne following a request by Army chief Sarath Fonseka and Navy Chief Wasantha Karannagoda has decided to build the coal power plant in Sampur, instead of China Bay as planned earlier.The Forces heads had explained at a meeting with the Minister that the high tension lines to come up with the construction of a coal power plant in China Bay could get in the way of the air base and other security installations there. The Minister, after taking into consideration these representations, decided to construct the coal power plant on a land 300 acres in extent in Samupur, ministry sources said.Security personnel are already clearing the land of mines in the proposed site to pave the way for the coal power plant project. A 20-member team of CEB Engineers will be visiting the site in two weeks time before undertaking the feasibility studies. Already the Indian government has agreed to provide Rs.50 billion to fund the project. The Indian Energy Authority will sign an MOU shortly with the Ministry in this regard. The coal power plant will be constructed in two phases: Each phase envisages generation of 500 MW of power. The first phase will be completed by the year 2010 and the second phase by 2012.