First biogas project to be built in Matara under Rs. 64 million investment – Minister

by Ifham Nizam

The first biogas power plant to be built under a Rs. 64 million investment in Matara district will add 400 KW to the national grid, Power and Energy Minister Dullas Alahapperuma said.

He said that operations are expected to begin in October 2021 to generate 400 kilowatts using 50 tons of garbage at a time.

“We believe this project will be an ideal solution to the grave garbage disposal problem. We will be launching the first project to generate electricity from biomass using waste from Matara district”, the Minister said.

He inspected the site of the proposed biogas project, jointly implemented by the Matara Municipal Council and the Central Environmental Authority (CEA), at Kotawila recently.

The CEA has already agreed to fund the initiative and granted necessary environmental permits for its implementation. The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has issued certificates of purchase of electricity while the Municipal Council has done its part under the Waste Management Project.

Minister Alahapperuma said that a biodegradable waste collection program will be implemented in the Matara district to channel garbage to generate biogas.