COLOMBO, Aug. 21 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka will build two battery power plants with a combined capacity of 260 megawatts in 2026 and 2027, said a minister on Thursday.
Minister of Energy Kumara Jayakody told the parliament that one plant will have a capacity of 160 megawatts, while the other will generate 100 megawatts.
Tenders for the 160-megawatt plant have already been called, and tenders for the 100-megawatt project will be invited soon, he said. The 100-megawatt plant will be built with funding from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
According to the minister, the projects are part of the government's long-term strategy to prevent the island-wide blackouts that occur every few years.
Jayakody added that several flexible power plants, designed to quickly ramp up or down to balance renewable sources such as wind and solar, will also be built in the coming years to ensure grid stability and prevent blackouts.
Sri Lanka experienced a nationwide power outage in 2022 and 2025. ■
