Jebel Ali-based Aggreko International Power Projects is now providing 200 megawatts of power across eight locations around the Sri Lankan capital, Colombo, following the signing of new contracts with the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB). The contracts are scheduled to run into 2003.
Sri Lanka generates two thirds of its electricity from water. Five years of failed monsoons have seen the number of power cuts increase, averaging from two to four hours a day. To provide short-term relief during the ongoing power shortages in Sri Lanka, Aggreko will provide continuous power every day of the week into various substations in and around Colombo.
This is the third time that Aggreko has provided power in Sri Lanka. In 2000/01 Aggreko supplied a total of 98 MW at four different sites and a total of 93 MW at five different sites during 1996/97. All the contracts were awarded to Aggreko following two separate rounds of public tendering.
In February this year Aggreko signed contracts with CEB to supply a total of 100 MW at four substations in the nation's capital. These substations are Kosgama and Kotugoda (40 MW and 25 MW), Peliyagoda (20 MW) and Ambatale (15 MW), where the power supplied is predominately consumed by the Colombo water treatment facility.
New contracts for a further 100 MW have now been awarded to Aggreko. Under these new agreements Aggreko is supplying power to four additional locations and has increased the capacity at two of the existing substations, Kosgama and Kotugoda, by five MW and 15 MW respectively.
The four new locations are at Seethawaka (40 MW), Mathugama (20 MW), Aniyakanda (8 MW) and Walanagoda (12 MW). Power packages of different sizes have been installed at all eight locations to match the power capacity and voltage requirements of the substations through which the grid is being fed, as some substations operate at 11 kV and others at 33 kV.
Equipment for the project has been supplied from across the Aggreko global network—Australia, Singapore, USA, UK and Dubai. Personnel at the Aggreko Service and Repair Center, based in Jebel Ali, United Arab Emirates (UAE), have been working to prepare the equipment, which was transported by sea and air to Sri Lanka.
The company is also responsible for all aspects of the fuel management contract, including negotiation with the fuel supplier (Ceylon Petroleum Corporation), transportation and management of the diesel fuel to point-of-use on site.
Aggreko International Power Projects was specifically formed by Aggreko to handle multi-megawatt temporary power projects. Aggreko power solutions include generators, load banks, transformers, fuel tanks, cables and switchgear. In addition, Aggreko provides project design planning, installation, commissioning and operating services and onsite service and maintenance support. — (menareport.com)
© 2002 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
