Sojitz Kelanitissa Power Station
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. 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. CEB acquired the power station on 28 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.
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.
In 2004, fire broke out at Sojitz Kelanitissa Power Station. The power station was shut down for restoration in 2004–2005.