‘Proper management, key to energy conservation’
Sandasen Marasinghe
Power and Energy Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka yesterday stated
that if the consumer properly manages electricity consumption between 6
pm to 9 pm, the country could terminate the function of all the fossil
fuel power plants in the country.
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The Power and Energy Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka
making the Lake House staff aware of the current and future
issues of the energy crisis at Lake House yesterday. Lake
House Chairman,Managing Director and senior journalist
Bandula Padmakumara, ANCL Director Editorial Seelaratne
Senarath, Legal Director Rasanga Harishchandra, Director
Operations Upul Dissanayake, General Manager Abhaya
Amaradasa were present. Picture by Samantha Weerasiri |
He made this observation addressing the ANCL staff at Lake House
premises in an awareness programme to save electricity.
The minister further stated that just by switching off the
refrigerator , a 60 Wt bulb and not using the electric water pump/motor
and the electric iron for a three hour period between 6 pm to 9 pm,
consumers can save Rs 20 billion for the entire country.
He added that electricity generation of a single unit costs around Rs
60 by fossil fuel power, but, the CEB has to sell it at a price of just
Rs 16 resulting in a heavy loss to the CEB and in turn to the entire
country.
He added that generally the refrigerator accounts for almost half of
the domestic electricity consumption.
Minister Ranawaka stated that the country's reservoirs have recorded
the lowest water levels in 50 years adding that had fossil fuel power
plants not been established, the CEB would have had to impose at least a
10 hour daily power cut.
He added that nearly 85 percent of the electricity is generated at
the fossil fuel power plants which is very costly.
He added that fossil fuel will last only for a short period like
three decades.
He added that powerful nations create issues in other countries under
the guise of protecting human rights to take control of the fossil fuel
deposits in those countries.
He stated that, however, electricity consumption of the world
population of around 7 billion is 120 times more than the actual
requirement of the said population. He said that this consumption
pattern has had a serious impact on the environment, one of which is a
considerable land mass coming under water.
The minister added that other examples of great extinction have
already commenced due to this consumption pattern and it would become
very serious in the future. He added that during this great extinction,
25 percent of the 1.7 million species would disappear from the earth .
He added man is also in imminent danger. Lake House Chairman senior
journalist Bandula Padmakumara, the ANCL director board and staff
participated in the event.. |
