Sojitz Kelanitissa Power Station

For the government-owned facility located within the same premises, see Kelanitissa Power Station.

The Sojitz Kelanitissa Power Station (also known as Sojitz Power Station, and AES Kelanitissa Power Station), is privately-owned 172 MW diesel-fired combined cycle power station located in Kelanitissa, in the city of Colombo, Sri Lanka. It is owned by Sojitz Kelanitissa Private Limited, a subsidiary of Sojitz Corporation.^[1][2] The power station is located adjacent to the Kelanitissa Power Station, which is a separate government-owned power station.

Sojitz Kelanitissa Power Station
Chimneys of the power station as seen from the southern-end of the Kelani Bridge, in August 2010.
Country	Sri Lanka
Location	Colombo
Coordinates	6°57′06″N 79°52′31″E / 6.9517°N 79.8753°E / 6.9517; 79.8753
Status	Operational
Construction began	15 July 2000
Commission date	10 October 2003
Construction cost	$104 million (2000)
Owner(s)	CEB Sojitz
Thermal power station
Primary fuel	Diesel fuel
Turbine technology	Gas turbine Steam turbine
Power generation
Units operational	1 × 57 MW 1 × 115 MW
Make and model	BHEL (1) GE Power 9E.03 (1)
Nameplate capacity	163 MW
External links
Website	www.skpl.lk

The power station consists of two generation units, a GEPG9171E gas turbine with a nameplate capacity of 115 MW, and a 57 MW steam turbine manufactured by Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited. Construction works were done by Larsen & Toubro.^[3] Like all power stations in Sri Lanka, power generated by the power station are sold to the Ceylon Electricity Board under a 20-year take-or-pay power purchase agreement. The low-sulfur diesel is supplied through an existing pipeline by the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation, with 20,000 tons, or the equivalent of 28-days of full capacity operations, stored in case of any fuel shortage. The plant is currently running on a 20-year contract, which ends on October 10, 2023.^[1] CEB acquired the power station on 28th March, 2023.

History

After the 1996 power crisis, in the midst of the Sri Lankan Civil War, the Government of Sri Lanka decided to invite IPPs to the country to increase the installed capacity. Sojitz signed the Letter of Intent with the Ceylon Electricity Board on 17 December 1998, obtained the environmental approval on 4 November 1999, and signed the Power Purchase Agreement, Fuel Supply Agreement, Implementation Agreement, and Land Lease Agreement, on 5 July 2000.^[4][5]

Construction of power station commenced after the signing of EPC on 15 July 2000, and the combined cycle unit was installed on 8 February 2003. The plant officially commenced operations on 10 October 2003.^[5]

In 2004, fire broke out at Sojitz Kelanitissa Power Station. The power station was shut down for restoration in 2004–2005.^[6]

See also

• Kelanitissa Power Station
• List of power stations in Sri Lanka

References

1. Extended Annual Review Report (PDF) (Report). Asian Development Bank. December 2011. pp. 1–2. Retrieved 11 October 2012.^{[permanent dead link]}
2. (PDF). Market Publishers. 14 August 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 December 2014. Retrieved 13 October 2012.
3. "Sojitz Completes Financing Agreements For 163 Mw Kelanitissa Power Plant In Sri Lanka" (Press release). Sojitz Corporation. 19 June 2001. Archived from the original on 16 January 2013. Retrieved 12 October 2012.
4. CEB Historical Data Book 1969-2015. Ceylon Electricity Board.
5. "About Us: Sojitz Kelanitissa Private Limited". Sojitz Kelanitissa Private Limited. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
6. (PDF) (Report). Asian Development Bank. August 2000. pp. 1–2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 December 2011. Retrieved 13 October 2012.