Cargills, USAID invest Rs. 80 Mn to launch EV charging initiative
Cargills in collaboration with the United States via the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), launches ground breaking project, ‘Charge while You Shop’ aimed at making renewable energy more accessible to all Sri Lankans who own electric vehicles (EVs) yesterday at Cargills Food City in Bauddhaloka Mawatha.
Cargills and USAID, through the Sri Lanka Energy Program, have co-funded and implemented this pioneering initiative to integrate EV charging stations complemented by solar power into multiple Cargills Retail locations in Colombo.
“This is our sixth project and we have invested around Rs.80 million for this EV charging initiative. We also received around 45% funding from USAID for this project,” said Managing Director Cargills Retail, Asoka Peiris. The installation of EV charging stations at Cargills Retail locations in Colombo marks the first phase of a larger rollout plan. Leveraging Cargills’ extensive network of over 520 Retail outlets and more than 70 KFC locations nationwide, the project aims to scale up the number of EV charging stations across Sri Lanka in the coming months.
Collaborating with Cargills under this initiative aligns with the broader mission of the Program to enhance energy security, promote economic growth and mitigate the effects of climate change. U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Julie Chung said, “Development challenges absolutely need the private sector to help drive solutions, so I’m thrilled to extend my gratitude to Cargills for its strong partnership with the United States in this and other sectors.”
“By integrating EV charging stations into everyday spaces like supermarkets, we are not only expanding access to renewable energy but also transforming the way people think about transportation and sustainability. Senior Manager, Corporate Strategy and Investor Relations for Cargills Ceylon, Chandana Kelegama, expressed enthusiasm for the project’s potential impact and said that they were proud to support the national movement towards sustainable energy solutions to power transport.”
With this innovative partnership between Cargills and USAID Sri Lanka Energy Program, Sri Lanka is poised to take an important step in renewable energy adoption, creating a more sustainable future for all.The Sri Lanka Energy Program, supported by USAID, is implemented by Chemonics International in Sri Lanka.
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