Hydropower running low - CEB

‘Worst drought in recent times but no power cuts’:

Ridma DISSANAYAKE

Hydropower generation has dropped to 14.8 percent due to the water levels of hydropower reservoirs receding to 25 percent of their capacity, the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) said yesterday. The capacity of hydropower reservoirs is 323 Gwh at present. This is the lowest capacity recorded during the past 10 years, the CEB said in a statement.

Poor rainfall is the reason for the drop in water levels. As a result of the water level decline, 85 percent out of the total daily power requirement is provided through thermal power, the release said.

The water levels of hydropower reservoirs were 30 percent higher than the present level in 1996. The power requirements during that period was also much lower than at present. But the CEB imposed several power cuts during that time and continued until 2009, the CEB said.

Meanwhile, CEB chairman Prof Wimaladharma Abeywickrema said Sri Lanka is facing the worst drought in recent times but have not imposed any power cuts as in previous years.

“Other countries in our region have eight to 20 hour power cuts,” he said.

“The thermal power plant in Kerawalapitiya (300 MW), Lakvijaya power plant in Puttalam (300 MW) and Upper Kotmale power plant (150 MW) established in the country have ensured an uninterrupted power supply and this should be appreciated,” he said. The cost of generating power has increased by 100 percent compared to 2010. The CEB urged the public to pay more attention towards energy conservation so that this will help in facing future challenges in the power sector.