Tokyo Power opens its second biomass plant in Sri Lanka

Tokyo Power, the energy arm of cement and concrete manufacturer Tokyo Cement Group, has built a Rs2.4 billion 5MW biomass-fired power plant in the Sri Lankan region of Mahiyanganaya.

This is the company's second biomass plant; its first, also located in Sri Lanka, generates 10MW.

According to a company statement, 'Tokyo Power launched the Mahiyanganaya plant after successfully pioneering the first plant of its kind that provides 10MW of clean energy to its factory in Trincomalee'.

The new plant will utilise Gliricidia, a fast-growing tree legume, which is available in abundance in the country's dry zone, sourced mainly from plantations.

The expected generation capacity of 40 million kWh per year (3.33 million kWh per month) will benefit around 30,000 homes and is the equivalent of taking 5,920 cars off the road.
"Our success with our initial Biomass plant in Trincomalee, gives us confidence that this plant will not only supply clean, stable energy to an under-served region but will also help stabilise the electrical grid, by supporting the CEB (Ceylon Electricity Board). Consistent, stable power generation will allow for small and medium scale industries in the region to perform better without the fear of outages,' Tokyo Power's GM E. Kugapriya was quoted as saying.