No more electricity purchases from private sector - Pavithra

The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) would not purchase electricity from private sector run fuel powered thermal power plants when the contracts lapse, as a measure of reducing CEB electricity generation costs to provide relief to the consumers, said Power and Energy Minister Pavitra Devi Wanniarachchi.

She said the CEB could stop buying electricity at higher prices from the private sector due to the unwavering political decision taken by President Mahinda Rajapaksa to set up coal power thermal plants that generate a unit of electricity a very low cost.

She also said that the price of a unit of electricity generated by the private sector is sometimes Rs 40 per unit while a unit of coal power electricity is around Rs 7.50. The first phase of the Norochcholai coal power plant is already commissioned and phase two and three will be commissioned very soon.

The Minister made these observations during a discussion at the Foundation Institute. CEB Additional Deputy General Manager D K B S Thilakasena said the Kelanitissa Gas turbines which will be put out off use by 2014 will help save a lot funds money on fuel. Ace Power in Embilipitiya, Heladanavi and Colombo power will also be phased out in 2015.

With the commission of the Broadlands, Uma Oya project and Ging Ganga projects in 2015 and 6,750 MW coal power thermal plants from 2017 to 2019, the country will not face any electricity crisis and power would be provided to CEB consumers at a comparatively low rate.

He also added that during this period, the Asia Power, Northern Power and Sapugaskanda thermal power plants will be put out of service dramatically reducing generation cost. Another coal power power plant is to be commissioned in 2021.

He added that at the initial stage the CEB had to buy power from private sector thermal plants that used petroleum fuel for power generation to cater the need of the country.