World's fossil fuel drying up - Expert

Disna Mudalige

Oil and coal prices can be expected to rise in the future, since the peak of using fossil fuel will emerge in the middle of this decade, said Power and Energy Ministry Consultant Asoka Abeygunawardena.

He was addressing a ceremony to inaugurate Consumer Consultative Committees held at Sri Lanka Foundation Institute last Monday.

"Sixty percent of our power is generated from oil at present. But we have no future if we depend upon oil. Shifting to coal power will give only a short-term relief. It is clearly seen that, the price of coal has increased now with oil price hike. This will speed up since countries like India and China are prone to coal now," he said.

He also pointed out that, the coal power plants accelerate carbon dioxide emission leading to a drastic climate change.

He noted that, we have to reduce power consumption without reducing our life standards to face this challenge.