SL to have nuclear power plant soon: Atomic Energy Board Chairman

By Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama  

The Cabinet approved signing the international conventions relating to generating electricity using nuclear power as it was a reliable, low-carbon base load source of electricity to complement renewable energy sources in the future, Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Board (SLAEB) Chairman Professor S.R. D. Rosa said.  

He told the Daily Mirror that the country is supposed to have barge-mounted small modular reactors (SMRs) that have a power capacity of up to 100 MW per unit.  
After signing the conventions, the project is qualified to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) as the next step.  

With the use of nuclear power generators, the country would be able to stop the use of fossil fuels.  

“The government has sought to implement the project with the Russian government. The required technology is provided by them, and they also agreed to take back the carbon waste. The Russian government has the technology to reprocess the nuclear waste,” the professor said.  

A feasibility study has been conducted to identify suitable land for establishing a nuclear power plant, but the first priority would be given to the barge-mounted power plant.  Electricity is vital for society’s functioning, and the steady production of nuclear electricity will help us avoid shortages and outages.  

Sri Lanka is seeking to increase and diversify its power production capacity. The government is looking at nuclear power as a reliable and low carbon option for its energy mix as it aims to achieve carbon neutrality in the electricity sector by 2050.