No more power cuts - minister

Ridma DISSANAYAKE

Power and Energy Minister Patalie Champika Ranawaka stated that power interruptions will not be imposed under any circumstances unless there are urgent repairs or an unforeseen incident.

From June 11 the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has been able to supply electricity without any disruptions due to the Lakvijaya power plant generating electricity without hindrance, he added.

There is a decline of 70 percent rainfall the worst in 30 years,issuing of water for cultivation during the Yala season and the inability to generate the anticipated power from Lakvijaya coal power station and Kerawalapitiya combined cycle power plant are the reasons for the power crisis.

The Lakvijaya and Yugadanavi power plants are generating 1,500 MW daily and it is enough to fulfill the energy demand. They are generating 40 to 45 percent of the power requirement in the country, the minister said.

He was addressing a press briefing held at the Power and Energy Ministry to inform the media on the circumstances leading to the power crisis during the past few days.

Currently the peak power load in the country is less than 2000 MW. Therefore taking the installed capacity of power plants into consideration there cannot be a shortage of power. Lakvijaya and Yugadanavi power plants can generate thermal power according to the requirement. Had these two facilities not been in existence, the CEB would have had to cut power for 10 hours for a day, he said.

"We have to spent a large sum of money to generate power and energy by using fuel. We have to spent Rs.18.64 per unit of thermal power.

Consumption of electricity is very high from 6.30 pm to 9.30 pm and if we have a less consumption during that period we could gain more profit from the power generation," the minister said.

The Kerawalapitiya power station is currently operating at full capacity as a result of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation supplying them with the requirement of special fuel.

If the Puttalam Lakvijaya and the Kerawalapitiya Yugadanavi power plants operate according to plan in the future, there will not be an issue in meeting the power demand until the rain arrives, he further added.

Minister Ranawaka has appointed a committee which consists of representatives of the relevant ministries who meet on a daily basis, to oversee the power generation process and avert future crises.

CEB Chairman Prof. Wimaladarma Abeywickrema, General Manager Nihal Wickramasuriya, Deputy General Manager Handagama and Additional General Manager, Projects Shrevindranath Fernando also attended the press briefing.