Mar 27, Colombo: Sri Lanka Ministry of Power and Energy says that the construction of the coal power plant in Sampoor will begin in June. According to the Ministry, the project that is a joint venture of India and Sri Lanka is aimed at providing 500MW to the national grid by 2012.

Indian based company NPTC under the supervision of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) undertakes the project. The cost of the first phase of the project intended to be completed by 2012, is 500 million US dollars. The government is to find 70% of the funds through foreign aid and the rest is to be provided by the CEB and the Indian company.

A land of 700 acres has been allocated from the area that was under Tamil Tiger hold until recently and the surveys are underway at present. The surveys will be completed by April and the construction will be commenced afterwards.

The Ministry also said the project is a 99.2% eco friendly undertaking and would create 4000 job opportunities in the area. A pier is to be built in parallel with the power plant for the ships unloading coal. The project once fully completed is expect to generate 1000 MW, the Ministry added.