India resumes electricity grid linking talks with crisis hit Sri Lanka

22 Apr 2022 CW Team

According to officials, India and Sri Lanka have resumed talks on linking their electricity grids.

India has extended financial support to Sri Lanka to fight the crisis, brought by a steep decline in foreign exchange reserves that stalled imports of essentials like fuel, disrupting the power supply.

A currency devaluation and shortages have prompted the nation of 22 million to begin talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a loan programme, even backed by India.

The country aims to link the neighbours with a miles-long transmission line running under the Indian Ocean.

The grid connection power project came up in talks with the Indian Ministry of Power when Basil Rajapaksa, then Sri Lanka's Minister of Finance, visited New Delhi to seek assistance.

It would enable Sri Lanka to obtain electricity during operational maintenance and droughts and export excess generation to India.

About two-thirds of Sri Lanka's electricity is generated by oil and coal-fired plants, and the rest by the hydro project.

The grid connectivity power project could become part of New Delhi's requests from Sri Lanka, which has also secured Chinese infrastructure deals in recent times.

To date, India has provided about $1.9 billion through credit lines and swaps and committed up to $2 billion more to help Sri Lanka tackle its worst financial crisis since independence from Britain in 1948.

The project to link the two grids has been in the works for years, with the neighbouring country signing a pact in 2010 on feasibility studies for an undersea power cable.

Power Grid Corporation of India envisaged the deployment of either a 500 MW or a 1,000 MW undersea transmission system.

The shortest distance between India and Sri Lanka is the Palk Strait, which is about 40 km wide, and the length of an undersea cable would depend on its alignment.

The subsea electrical cables, having long spans, include the NordLink, between Germany and Norway, which is 623 km long.

Image Source

According to officials, India and Sri Lanka have resumed talks on linking their electricity grids. India has extended financial support to Sri Lanka to fight the crisis, brought by a steep decline in foreign exchange reserves that stalled imports of essentials like fuel, disrupting the power supply. A currency devaluation and shortages have prompted the nation of 22 million to begin talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a loan programme, even backed by India. The country aims to link the neighbours with a miles-long transmission line running under the Indian Ocean. The grid connection power project came up in talks with the Indian Ministry of Power when Basil Rajapaksa, then Sri Lanka's Minister of Finance, visited New Delhi to seek assistance. It would enable Sri Lanka to obtain electricity during operational maintenance and droughts and export excess generation to India. About two-thirds of Sri Lanka's electricity is generated by oil and coal-fired plants, and the rest by the hydro project. The grid connectivity power project could become part of New Delhi's requests from Sri Lanka, which has also secured Chinese infrastructure deals in recent times. To date, India has provided about $1.9 billion through credit lines and swaps and committed up to $2 billion more to help Sri Lanka tackle its worst financial crisis since independence from Britain in 1948. The project to link the two grids has been in the works for years, with the neighbouring country signing a pact in 2010 on feasibility studies for an undersea power cable. Power Grid Corporation of India envisaged the deployment of either a 500 MW or a 1,000 MW undersea transmission system. The shortest distance between India and Sri Lanka is the Palk Strait, which is about 40 km wide, and the length of an undersea cable would depend on its alignment. The subsea electrical cables, having long spans, include the NordLink, between Germany and Norway, which is 623 km long. Image Source

Infrastructure Transport

07 Apr 2026

Large Format Store Planned At M G Road Metro Station

M G Road station in Bengaluru is set to host the city’s first large-format commercial and experience space, with planning led by Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited. BMRCL has invited proposals to develop and operate a central business district destination at the Purple?Pink Line interchange. The plan positions the station as a commercial hub designed to serve a broad commuter base across the city. The proposal is part of a broader effort to activate transit nodes commercially. Tender documents set a minimum monthly rental of Rs 0.944 million (mn), inclusive of GST, for the large-format..

Infrastructure Energy

07 Apr 2026

Government Cancels Auction Of Eleven Critical Mineral Blocks

The government has cancelled the auction of 11 critical and strategic mineral blocks after receiving a poor investor response and failing to attract a sufficient number of qualified bidders. The decision represents a setback to plans to ramp up domestic exploration and production of critical minerals amid global supply chain disruptions and rising demand for materials used in clean energy and advanced technologies. The mines ministry issued an annulment notice setting out the reasons for the cancellations. The annulment notice indicated that the auction process for five mineral blocks was canc..

Infrastructure Energy

07 Apr 2026

Gujarat Pushes Biogas Growth With 193 Operational Units

Gujarat has operationalised 193 biogas plants across the state and is planning to add 60 more units as part of a broader push to scale up clean and sustainable energy solutions. The existing plants, established under various government-supported schemes, process organic waste including cattle dung and agricultural residue to produce biogas and a nutrient-rich slurry. The output is mainly used for cooking and other energy needs in rural and semi-urban communities, while also improving local waste management practices. The Gujarat Energy Development Agency (GEDA) is leading the initiative and is..