Towards self-sufficiency in power

This week the second and final stage of the Kerawalapitiya power plant was commissioned. It now adds 300 MW of power to the national grid.

Two outstanding achievements in completing the project in record time should be mentioned. One was that the project was completed at a cost below the estimated amount. The other was the hundred percent utilization of local engineering talent for the project.

Since the fratricidal war has ended Sri Lanka would be entering a period of development. That means the demand for power would increase even at a greater pace. Already it is said to increase at a rate of 10 percent per year.

The necessity of attaining self-sufficiency in this vital sphere is, therefore, urgent. Self-sufficiency would not have any meaning if the costs of power keep on escalating. For already the high prices of power has become a major impediment to growth of industry. High costs of power increases the cost of production. The result is that locally produced commodities find it difficult to compete in the international market as cheaper goods from other countries entering it.

It is necessary to lower costs of production along with increase in power generation. The Kerawalapitiya project has taken this fact into consideration. The completion of its second stage has been accompanied by a reduction in the unit cost of production of electricity.

Sri Lanka has been depending on hydroelectricity for too long without augmenting other sources of power. Often lack of political will and inability to take bold decisions had delayed the start of identified projects such as the Norochcholai power plant and the Upper Kotmale power project.

It was after the assumption of office by President Mahinda Rajapaksa that such bold decisions could be taken and long delayed projects started at last. The next few years would see the completion of these projects which would signify self-sufficiency in power generation. It would also be able to provide electricity at a lower cost. That would not only ease the burden of the domestic consumer but would also be a big fillip to the industrialists in reducing their cost of production.

Besides the above mentioned projects additional coal power plants are coming up in the North and East. The development of natural gas resources of the country would also enhance the possibility of ensuring cheaper power.

Unlike in the early decades after independence, climate change has affected rainfall patterns. This has decreased the capacity for hydro power generation. Also fossil fuel based power generation would be costlier as those resources are dwindling.

There is an urgent need to search for alternative sustainable sources of power generation. In this we could safely depend on such sources as solar energy and wind. Being an equatorial island we have an abundant sun and wind.

It is time to plan for a long-term conversion to solar power and wind power. Though the initial costs are high it is long-lasting. It could be maintained eternally at minimum cost.

Sri Lanka should spend on R & D in this sphere. It could not be within the reach of our scientists and engineers. Besides, there is also the possibility of developing bio-power. What is necessary is the political will power to invest heavily in the sphere of alternative sustainable energy and develop both the technology and human resources required for their use.

Though power is costly in Sri Lanka there is much wastage. It is sad that adequate attention is not paid to devise ways and means of eliminating wastage of much valued electricity. At a time when most countries have switched over to the use of low consumption CFL lamps for home consumption Sri Lankan households still use the high consumption incandescent lamps.

The public should be made aware of the need and benefits of saving power not only in their self interest but also in the national interest.