China's Continuing Expansion into Sri Lanka Brings Environmental Consequences

OPINION-Y P Prakash

Sri Lanka-China's renewed involvement in Sri Lanka has raised alarms, as reports indicate that China's Sinopec has pledged to invest in Sri Lanka's southern district of Hambantota, following its consent on conditionalities for the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to lend money to the island nation.

While Sri Lanka has experienced negative consequences from Chinese investments in the past, a new concern has emerged with reports indicating that toxic acids emitted from the Norochcholai Coal Power Plant may pose a threat to the Sri Mahabodhi tree, the oldest living tree in the world with a written history.

The potential environmental damage to this sacred tree, which is grown from a branch of the sacred Bodhi tree in Gaya, India, is deeply troubling.

China's aggressive lending and investment practices in Sri Lanka, including its plans to consolidate investments in Sri Lanka's ports and energy sector, have raised concerns about China's intentions, including the possibility of establishing a military base in Hambantota.

A comprehensive report released by the US Department of Defense in November 2021 stated that China was considering and planning for additional military bases and logistics facilities globally, including in Sri Lanka, to support its naval, air, and ground forces projection. China has denied such plans and maintained that its moves with Sri Lanka are purely commercial.

However, the concerns raised by Sri Lanka's immediate neighbors India and the United States about China's expanding presence in the region cannot be ignored.

The Sri Lankan President's Media Division (PMD) confirmed that a meeting took place between representatives of Sinopec Group and President Ranil Wickremesinghe on March 13, 2023, where Sinopec pledged to invest in Sri Lanka's Hambantota district, which has been identified as a primary energy hub.

This comes just ten days after President Wickremesinghe directed the country's Petroleum Minister to revive the Trincomalee oil tank farm and incorporate it into the country's economy.

However, the potential environmental impact of such investments cannot be ignored, especially in light of the existing environmental concerns surrounding the Norochcholai Power Plant.

The Norochcholai Power Plant, also known as the Lakvijaya Power Plant, is Sri Lanka's largest thermal power plant and is located in Puttalam, in the country's North-Western province, about an hour away from the sacred Sri Mahabodhi tree in Anuradhapura.

Emissions from the 900MW coal power plant are reported to be above permissible standards, possibly due to frequent breakdowns, intermittent operations, and improper storage of fly ash in open pits.

The power plant also generates a significant amount of solid waste, heat waste, and water pollution from the release of heated water, which can have long-term environmental impacts.

The main environmental issues associated with the Norochcholai Power Plant are related to the fly ash and bottom ash produced during the coal combustion process.

Fly ash is fine particles that escape combustion chambers with exhaust gases, while bottom ash is a non-combustible residue that collects at the bottom of the boiler. Fly ash open dumping is a significant concern as the yard is exposed to wind erosion and leaching.

The fine particles, smaller than 10 microns, can be easily carried away by the winds, disrupting agriculture, polluting water supplies, and causing various diseases.

Reports have indicated that several children in the areas surrounding the Norochcholai power plant have contracted skin diseases, with patches resembling rashes appearing on their skin, even in newborns.