Colombo: China has blocked projects to set up hybrid power plants in 3 Sri Lankan islands, citing "security concerns" expressed by a 'third party'. Concerns have been reported from India over these project sites. According to media reports, a report published on Thursday said that Chinese company Saino Sor Hybrid Technology was given a project in January to set up hybrid renewable energy systems in the islands of Delft, Nagadipa and Alanthivu off the coast of Jaffna. These three islands are situated near Tamil Nadu.
The Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka made this clear in a tweet without naming India. It tweeted that 'Saino Sore Hybrid Technology' has been prevented from developing hybrid energy systems in three northern islands due to third party security concerns.' It also said china has instead signed an agreement with Male on November 29 to set up 12 solar power plants in maldives. According to reports, in early 2021, India lodged a "strong protest" with Sri Lanka over the handing over of construction of renewable power plants at Delft, Nagadipa and Analthevu to the Chinese company.
It has said that the contract was part of the 'Auxiliary Power Supply Reliability Improvement Project' which is being implemented by the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) and funded by the ADB. The Sri Lankan government last month gave the project to a China Harbor Engineering Company run by the Chinese government to develop the eastern container terminal of Colombo port. A few months ago, it cancelled a tripartite deal with India and Japan to build a deep-sea container port.
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