Infrastructure. SRI LANKA News Extract , Sri Lanka to strike oil, gas soon

Transcription

1 , Sri Lanka to strike oil, gas soon SRI LANKA News Extract Sanjeevi JAYASURIYA Sri Lanka is to strike oil and gas as soon as the report on 3 D seismic studies are completed within two months. The study would enable to ascertain how much hydrocarbon deposits are available in the Mannar Basin. It is expected that the first barrel of oil could be extracted by 2013, said Petroleum and Petroleum Resources Development Minister A.H.M. Fowzie at a media briefing yesterday. Cairn Lanka is commencing seismic acquisition in Mannar Basin with an investment of over US $ 100 million. Bids have been called for the remaining seven blocks and a Cabinet Paper has been already submitted. A production sharing agreement has been signed specifying as to how to share oil, what are the benefits Sri Lanka is to receive and the procedures to follow. Sri Lanka would receive a ten percent royalty on oil produced. We are optimistic and investing a great deal of money to drill wells and remain focused on conducting the seismic survey, said Cairn Commercial Director, P. Elangoven. It is important to carry out the work program on competitive rates. The availability of oil would depend on the data from the survey subjected to a review and analysis, he said. Cairn Lanka Private Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cairn India, commenced its 3D seismic survey in the Mannar Basin in Sri Lanka. The program will fulfill the commitment of 1450 km2 of 3D seismic data acquisition and will be acquired by CGG Veritas AS using the seismic vessel SR/V Viking II. Completion of the data acquisition is expected by the first quarter of 2010 with data processing scheduled to be completed by mid Drilling, based on the interpreted data and subject to regulatory approvals, is expected to commence in the first half of Block SL was awarded to Cairn India in the bid round held in The block lies offshore Northwest Sri Lanka. For the Sri Lankan entry, Cairn Lanka (Private) Limited was formed as a wholly owned subsidiary of Cairn India, which now holds a 100 percent participating interest in the block. Cairn s Forward Plan includes commencing a Met Ocean and Currents survey in January 2010, complete the 3D seismic acquisition program before the end of April 2010, initiate fast-track 3D seismic data processing and complete same within August 2010, complete final 3D seismic data processing and interpretation by about November 2010, complete all major drilling services contracting by about August 2010, finalize the drilling rig contract before December 2010 and commence exploration drilling (Well # 1) in April , KKS harbour to be renovated H ARBOUR WILL PLAY KEY ROLE IN PASSENGER, CARGO TRANSPORTATION IN FUTURE: Dharma Sri Abeyratne In line with the rapid development process in the country s sea transportation system, moves are under way to renovate the Kankesanthurai harbour at a cost of Rs 100 million. The renovation process will be carried out by the Navy. The Kakesanthurai harbour had mainly been used for military purposes. As a result of the peaceful situation in the country, the harbour can now be utilised for general activities. The renovation work is scheduled to commence soon. Jetties will be modernised and renovated while deepening the harbour bed will begin under the development process. Access roads will also be renovated. Apart from this, many other harbour related development have been planned aiming to convert the Kankesanthurai harbour to a commercial harbour. The harbour will soon operate as a modern commercial harbour, Ports and Aviation Minister Chamal Rajapaksa said.

2 The Kankesanthurai harbour can easily be used as a sea transportation hub for the North. It has been estimated that the harbour will play a key role in passenger and cargo transportation in the future. Moreover crops and other produce can be transported to other parts of the country via the Kansesanthurai harbour, sources said , Rs 1,500 m to develop Vavuniya Bandula Seneviratne Vavuniya North Group Corr. Vavuniya is to be developed as a modern fully equipped city by the Urban Development and Sacred Area Development Ministry. The proposed City Development Plan was unveiled at a contract signing ceremony held under the patronage of Minister Dinesh Gunawardena at the Vavuniya Kachcheri yesterday. The government has allocated Rs. 1,500 million for the first stage of the City Development Plan which would include the construction of infrastructure and other facilities including roads, markets, sports grounds, swimming pools and holiday resorts. Rehabilitation of reservoirs will also be undertaken to make them more attractive and functional. Minister Gunawardane who later handed over the City Development Plan to Vavuniya UC Chairman S. Nathan said the President and his Government had given top priority for the development of Vavuniya as a modern and attractive city which could contribute towards the nation rebuilding effort. The Minister and his party later visited the historic Sri Dalada Viharaya at Madukanda in Vavuniya to participate in religious observances and inspect the progress of the viharaya conservation work. Urban Development Minister Rohana Dissanayake, Parliamentarians S. Kishoe and Sivashakthi Anandan and Vavuniya GA, P.S.M. Charles were also present on the occasion. 13 airstrips in Sri Lanka to be renovated Thu, Dec 3, 2009, 11:05 pm SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka. Dec 03, Colombo: The Sri Lankan government has taken measures to renovate thirteen air strips in the country, the Ports and Aviation Ministry authorities said. The Ministry says under the initiative the runways of airstrips in Polonnaruwa, Hingurakgoda, Palali, Ratmalana, Koggala, Katukurunda, Weeravila, Trincomalee, Sigiriya, Batticaloa, Ampara, Kankasanthurai, and Vavuniya will be lengthened and widened to operate medium scale aircraft. The government also plans to import six medium-sized passenger MA 60 aircraft from China to promote the inland passenger transport once the runways are improved. In addition, the Ministry has taken steps to lengthen the runway of the Bandaranaike International Airport up to 3,350 meters in an effort to meet international requirements. [UPDATE] Sri Lanka President commences the constructions on beltway around Sri Lanka capital Mon, Dec 7, 2009, 08:13 pm SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka. Dec 07, Colombo: Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa today ceremoniously launched the construction work on the first phase of the Outer Circular Highway, a beltway around Sri Lanka's capital Colombo.

3 The proposed OCH highway will start from Kerawalapitiya along the Colombo - Katunayake Expressway to link Southern Expressway crossing A-4 highway at Kottawa and the main A-1 Colombo-Kandy highway at Kadawatha. The 29 kilometer road project at an estimated cost of 90 billion rupees will be built in three phases - Kottawa-Kaduwela, Kaduwela-Kadawata and Kadawata-Kerawalapitiya. Construction of the first phase of the project, the 11 kilometer stretch from Kottawa to Kaduwela is funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The planned beltway around the city provides access to the existing 'A' class roads at several interchanges including Kottawa, Kaduwela and Kadawatha. Minister of Highways T. B. Ekanayaka said the traffic congestion around Colombo and its suburbs will certainly be reduced after the completion of the highway. Mega road development projects approved in Sri Lanka Thu, Sep 3, 2009, 11:54 pm SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka. Sept 03, Colombo: Sri Lanka Cabinet has granted approval to several road projects in the country to upgrade and rehabilitate the provincial roads in Eastern and Northern regions. The Cabinet approved a proposal submitted by President Mahinda Rajapaksa as the Minister of Finance and Planning to enter into a Financing Agreement with the lending arms of the World Bank, International Development Association (IDA) to borrow Special Drawing Rights 70.6 million equivalent to US$ 105 million for the implementation of the Provincial Roads Projects. The project plans to upgrade and rehabilitate 200 kilometers of provincial roads in the Uva Province and 100 kilometers of provincial roads in Ampara District in the Eastern Region. The project, which will begin this month and expected to be completed in five years, is aimed at improving access to social and economic activities in the Eastern and Uva Provinces through the sustainable management of improved road infrastructure, the government declared. Another proposal submitted by the Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya as the Acting Minister of Finance and Planning received approval from the Cabinet today to enter into a financing agreement with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for a loan of US$ 70 million (Rs. 8 billion) to implement the Eastern and Northern Central Provincial Road Project. The project at a total estimated cost of US$ 78 million of which US$ 70 million is provided by the ADB and the rest will be borne by the government, will rehabilitate 150 kilometers of provincial roads in the Eastern Province in order to improve the transport system in the Eastern and North Central Provinces. The proposed rehabilitation includes improvement of road pavements, bridges, drainage, and replacement of culverts of the proposed roads. The project is expected to be implemented by 31st December A separate proposal submitted by the President also received the Cabinet approval today to continue the construction work of the 4-lane expressway from Pinnaduwa to Godagama which comes under the Southern Transport Development Project. Funding for this segment of the highway has been secured from the EXIM Bank of the People's Republic of China , GOVT TO SIGN AGREEMENTS WITH INDIAN, CHINESE COMPANIES:

4 Northern railway line reconstruction expedited Irangika Range The Government will sign agreements with an Indian and a Chinese company to reconstruct the Northern railway line from Omanthai to Kankesanthurai next week. Northern line reconstruction * Up to Omanthai - Railway Dept. * Omanthai to Pallai - IRCON (Indian Company) * Pallai to KKS - China Railway Number Five Group The Indian company IRCON will construct the railway line from Omanthai to Pallai while China Railway Number Five Group will undertake the construction of the railway line from Pallai Kankensanthurai, Sri Lanka Railway s General Manager P.P. Wijesekara told the Daily News. The distance from Omanthai to Kankesanthurai is 152 km which will be reconstructed at an estimated cost of US$ The project * Omanthai to KKS km * Estimated Cost - US$ 430 m * Expected to be completed in two and half years. 430 million. The project is expected to be completed within the next two and half years. US $ 185 million and US $ 245 million will be provided in terms of concessionary loans by the Indian and Chinese governments respectively, Wijesekara said. He said the Railway Department will restore the railway line up to Omanthai. The track is being laid successfully with Army assistance. The railway track un to Kankesanthurai will be completed in two stages. The Indian Company will continue work from Omanthai to Pallai and the Chinese company will lay the track from Pallai to KKS, Wijesekara explained. The track will stretch from Omanthai to Pallai and will be 96 kms in length while the distance from Pallai to KKS is 56 kms, he said. Wijesekara said trains are operating up to Thandikulam and would be extended to Omanthai by the end of the year.a new railway station in Omanthai is being reconstructed at an estimated cost of Rs. 20 million with the assistance of the Social Services and Social Welfare Ministry and the people of Galle. He said 27 railway stations from Thandikulam to KKS are to be reconstructed by 27 sponsors already found by the Government, Wijesekara said. The Northern rail track and railway stations were damaged by the LTTE. As a result of this destruction, train services on Northern track were limited only to Vavuniya for the last 30 years. The Army is carrying out de-mining activities to clear the area so that the railway line can proceed, Wijesekara said The Government estimates that it would cost nearly Rs. 14 billion to restore the entire rail track by 2010 under the Uthuru Mithuru program , New airport catalyst for development Rasika Somarathna in Mattala President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday inaugurated the project to construct Sri Lanka s second International Airport at Mattala, Hambantota turning another promise in his election manifesto Mahinda Chinthana into reality. The new airport is expected to be a boon to the local aviation industry while being a catalyst for the country s economic development enabling international trade, tourism, vocational training and employment.

5 The new airport will be geared to support both international and domestic travel, air-sea cargo transshipment in conjunction with the Hambantota sea port and would act as an alternative to the Bandaranaike International Airport from 2011 end. The commencement of the construction of Sri Lanka s second fully fledged international airport is another promise in the Mahinda Chinthana becoming a reality. The President s manifesto Mahinda Chinthana in its envisaged development plan Randora emphasizes the establishment of a second international airport in Sri Lanka while pursuing action to develop 13 existing domestic air strips, thereby providing the nation with a modern air transport network that will support the development envisaged. The new airport basically supports the concept of an air-sea transshipment hub in conjunction with the Hambantota Port. Project at a glance Estimated Cost: US $ 210 million Extent of land: 2,000 hectares in total. Initial construction covers an extent of 800 hectares. Aerodrome design: Designed to meet the ICAO specification for code 4F. Runway Length: 3,500 metres in length with a width of 75 metres. Taxiways: 60 metre long taxiway from the runway centre line to the edge of the apron. Apron: 10 parking positions initially with the total being 80. Air Field Capacity: Annual Service Volume of the aerodrome at short and medium/long term planning horizons will be 30,000 and 60,000 movements respectively. Terminal and related buildings: Proposed 10,000 square metres to accommodate 800 peak hours and 100 domestic passengers both ways. Benefits Aeronautical Direct: Domestic/Regional and international passenger traffic & Cargo movement, domestic/regional passenger hub, budget airline attractant, seaplane/amphibious operations, ware housing etc. Aeronautical Indirect: Pilot training, technician training, maintenance hub, charter/private jet parking, and moth balled aircraft/junkyard. Non Aeronautical International financial centre, aerotropolis concept, duty free shopping centre, investments incentives, industrial parks, IT parks, hotels, restaurants, car rentals, resort activities, recreational activities etc. related to tourism. Objectives To play a vital and supportive role in the development activity in the Hambantota region and capture market share of the regional traffic growth. To promote air-sea transshipment hub operation in conjunction with the Hambantota Harbour. To play a key component in the development efforts of the Eastern and Southern coasts. To be an alternate airport to BIA. To facilitate the establishment of a gateway for economic and investment infusion in Sri Lanka. Construction China Harbour Engineering Company with the support of local expertise in the form of Airport and Aviation Services Sri Lanka Ltd and other relevant local players.

6 , H'tota port will ease congestion Harshini PERERA The congestion in the Colombo port has compelled the Government to meet the requirement of a model port in the region. It has picked Hambantota port which is 1,115 hectares in extent, said Chairman, Sri Lanka Ports Authority, Dr. Priyath B Wickrama. He said that the port will attract investors to commence industries in the district creating many job opportunities in the Hambantota area. Phase 1 of the port will handle general cargo, Oil, Cement and include a domestic container yard and a fully-fledged dockyard as well. Therefore, the warehouses and shelter requirement of the industries can be provided. While the construction of the project will be done with a loan of US$ 365 million from the Chinese Government the Government has invested US$ 100 million. It is expected to complete the construction in October next year. "We will be maintaining a tank farm which can be used for storage of fuel, gas and fertilizer. The port will have different services and facilities for investors to keep their businesses running. The services of the port will include general cargo, off-shore services and large ships. Investors in the area will be provided with many benefits. Especially tax-free business can be carried on within the limits of the port. Apart from that infrastructure facilities and mode of transportation for the industries are provided with the Southern highway and the new road bordering the port. The railway line limited to Matara is expected to extend to Kataragama and the railway line to Beliatta is already under construction", he said. Three industrial zones will be constructed that are six kms away from the Port and it is expected that investors approved by the Board of Investment (BOI) will soon mark their presence. He said that currently the country's ports gets around 1,000 vessels annually and the Hambantota port can initially accommodate two vessels at a time. Wickrama said that facilities such as water, electricity, Telecommunication and Secretarial services will be provided for the investors. A conference hall, offices, shops and recreational facilities are provided. Apart from this the Sri Lanka Ports Authority has decided to construct an artificial island catering to the tourists. The first underwater tunnel in Sri Lanka will be constructed in early A special security system will be operated at the port and transactions can be performed through Internet without visiting the port. 13 airstrips in Sri Lanka to be renovated Thu, Dec 3, 2009, 11:05 pm SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka. Dec 03, Colombo: The Sri Lankan government has taken measures to renovate thirteen air strips in the country, the Ports and Aviation Ministry authorities said. The Ministry says under the initiative the runways of airstrips in Polonnaruwa, Hingurakgoda, Palali, Ratmalana, Koggala, Katukurunda, Weeravila, Trincomalee, Sigiriya, Batticaloa, Ampara, Kankasanthurai, and Vavuniya will be lengthened and widened to operate medium scale aircraft. The government also plans to import six medium-sized passenger MA 60 aircraft from China to promote the inland passenger transport once the runways are improved.

7 In addition, the Ministry has taken steps to lengthen the runway of the Bandaranaike International Airport up to 3,350 meters in an effort to meet international requirements. [UPDATE] Sri Lanka President commences the constructions on beltway around Sri Lanka capital Mon, Dec 7, 2009, 08:13 pm SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka. Dec 07, Colombo: Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa today ceremoniously launched the construction work on the first phase of the Outer Circular Highway, a beltway around Sri Lanka's capital Colombo. The proposed OCH highway will start from Kerawalapitiya along the Colombo - Katunayake Expressway to link Southern Expressway crossing A-4 highway at Kottawa and the main A-1 Colombo-Kandy highway at Kadawatha. The 29 kilometer road project at an estimated cost of 90 billion rupees will be built in three phases - Kottawa-Kaduwela, Kaduwela-Kadawata and Kadawata-Kerawalapitiya. Construction of the first phase of the project, the 11 kilometer stretch from Kottawa to Kaduwela is funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The planned beltway around the city provides access to the existing 'A' class roads at several interchanges including Kottawa, Kaduwela and Kadawatha. Minister of Highways T. B. Ekanayaka said the traffic congestion around Colombo and its suburbs will certainly be reduced after the completion of the highway. Mega road development projects approved in Sri Lanka Thu, Sep 3, 2009, 11:54 pm SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka. Sept 03, Colombo: Sri Lanka Cabinet has granted approval to several road projects in the country to upgrade and rehabilitate the provincial roads in Eastern and Northern regions. The Cabinet approved a proposal submitted by President Mahinda Rajapaksa as the Minister of Finance and Planning to enter into a Financing Agreement with the lending arms of the World Bank, International Development Association (IDA) to borrow Special Drawing Rights 70.6 million equivalent to US$ 105 million for the implementation of the Provincial Roads Projects. The project plans to upgrade and rehabilitate 200 kilometers of provincial roads in the Uva Province and 100 kilometers of provincial roads in Ampara District in the Eastern Region. The project, which will begin this month and expected to be completed in five years, is aimed at improving access to social and economic activities in the Eastern and Uva Provinces through the sustainable management of improved road infrastructure, the government declared. Another proposal submitted by the Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya as the Acting Minister of Finance and Planning received approval from the Cabinet today to enter into a financing agreement with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for a loan of US$ 70 million (Rs. 8 billion) to implement the Eastern and Northern Central Provincial Road Project. The project at a total estimated cost of US$ 78 million of which US$ 70 million is provided by the ADB and the rest will be borne by the government, will rehabilitate 150 kilometers of provincial roads in the Eastern Province in order to improve the transport system in the Eastern and North Central Provinces. The proposed rehabilitation includes improvement of road pavements, bridges, drainage, and replacement of culverts of the proposed roads. The project is expected to be implemented by 31st December 2013.

8 A separate proposal submitted by the President also received the Cabinet approval today to continue the construction work of the 4-lane expressway from Pinnaduwa to Godagama which comes under the Southern Transport Development Project. Funding for this segment of the highway has been secured from the EXIM Bank of the People's Republic of China.