India eager to build undersea power cable to Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka, however, concerned with project cost.

India is pushing for the implementation of its first undersea power transmission project with Sri Lanka.

India's power transmission company, the Power Grid Corporation of India Limited, has finished a feasibility study for the interconnection of the India-Sri Lanka electricity grids that include setting up a high voltage direct current transmission system between both countries using under sea transmission.

India’s eagerness stand in contrast to concerns from the Sri Lanka Power and Energy Ministry and Ceylon Electricity Board engineers.

Power and Energy Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka noted that there are few technical issues in the project’s implementation. He said Sri Lanka has to bear a huge cost to lay a submarine cable under the Setusamudram canal if the Indian government goes ahead with the project. He said this is a major concern of the government.

But it will be beneficial for the proposed wind power project in Mannar if India is willing to purchase power at a reasonable rate. At the moment India is purchasing wind power at a very low price, he said adding that Sri Lanka is not willing to sell wind power cheaply.

Ranawaka, however, expressed optimism the undersea power transmission project will be completed by 2016 or 2020 as the price of coal is expected to rise.