Cargills partners with USAID Sri Lanka Energy Program

In support of Sri Lanka’s transition to E-mobility, Cargills and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)’s Sri Lanka Energy Program signed a grant agreement to pioneer electric vehicle (EV) charging stations across multiple Cargills FoodCity locations in Colombo. The grant is for a pilot project for renewable energy powered charging stations for electric three-wheelers/two-wheelers through the nation’s largest supermarket chain.

This new and timely initiative will further enhance the value that Cargills creates for the community, as the wider goals for the project include empowering women into the energy sector workforce and up-skilling youth in energy sector jobs and jobs that are linked to the uptake of EVs in Sri Lanka. Cargills, as a leading corporate, has continued to nurture local producers and entrepreneurs, while creating value for customers and investing in communities across the country, with the purpose of serving Sri Lanka.

The EV charging stations will be made available at six Cargills FoodCity outlets located in the Colombo District, namely at Bloemendhal Road, Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Green Path, Duplication Road, Norris Canal Road and Dematagoda, making Cargills the first supermarket chain in Sri Lanka to offer an EV charging infrastructure in multiple retail locations. The charging units will be supplied by ChargeNET, a leading supplier of EV charging infrastructure in the country.

Sri Lanka’s high dependence on non-renewable energy, which is predominantly powered by fossil fuels that are imported, has highlighted the urgent need for sustainable clean energy solutions that can create a positive impact in the country. Therefore, the USAID Sri Lanka Energy Program has identified the development and implementation of renewable energy powered EV charging stations as a much needed infrastructure support to advance E-mobility in the country.