Australia’s United Solar secures approval for US$ 1.7bn solar project

The Cabinet of Ministers this week approved a proposal from Australia’s United Solar Group to invest US$ 1.73 billion to construct a 700 MW solar power plant with a battery energy storage system at Poonakary Lake in Kilinochchi.
Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera on a social media post said Cabinet approval was granted to enter into a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Australia’s United Solar Group for this project.
In September, United Solar Group initially proposed the project, prompting Minister Wijesekera to seek Cabinet approval to accept the project proposal in principle. 
Additionally, he proposed the appointment of a Cabinet-appointed negotiation committee to assess the proposal and provide essential recommendations.

“Cabinet approval was granted yesterday to enter into a Power Purchase Agreement with United Solar Group of Australia to invest in a 700MW solar power project with 1, 500 MWh of battery energy storage system,” Minister Wijesekera’s social media post stated.
“The solar power project will be installed on the surface of the Poonakary tank in the Kilinochchi district, with a foreign direct investment of US$ 1, 727 million,” it added.