Lokuge undertakes to achieve President’s renewable energy goal

By Ifham Nizam

Power Minister Gamini Lokuge yesterday said President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had entrusted him with the daunting task of increasing the contribution of renewable energy to 70 per cent of the total electricity requirement by 2030.

“We have launched a number of projects in this regard and have already invited investors to develop the country on those lines,” he said at the ground breaking ceremony for the new headquarters building of the Lanka Electricity Company (Pvt) Ltd., founded in 1983.

The building will be constructed at Narahenpita on a land purchased by the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) about 20 years ago.

“As such, we, as the people’s representatives, must always be concerned about the welfare of the people, and I proposed to the CEB to take steps to provide solar power connections to low-income earners under a concessionary scheme, giving them ownership of their electricity and purchase any surplus.

Lokuge said that the country was currently facing a number of major economic problems and that the government was committed to overcoming those difficulties and working for the welfare of the people.

Secretary to the Ministry of Power and Energy Wasantha Perera, LECO Chairman R. Ranatunga, Attorney-at-Law Athula de Silva, General Manager Dr. Narendra Silva and other senior officials from the Ministry of Power and Energy, State Ministry, Sustainable Energy Authority, Public Utilities Commission and Ceylon Electricity Company were present on the occasion.