Power Minister cancels emergency purchase tender

• Ravi says 150MW of electricity already available
• Says will buy from IPPs only if they match with lowest rate

By Chathuri Dissanayake 

Power, Energy and Business Development Minister Ravi Karunanayake announced yesterday that no emergency power will be purchased this year, being confident the gap in energy requirement during the dry months will be filled.

“We have decided not to buy emergency power this year. We can manage with what we have. There is about 150MW of electricity that we can add to the system,” Minister Ravi Karunanayake said, speaking to journalists.

According to the Minister, 50MW has been added to the generation supply through solar power, while another 100MW can be purchased through large generators in several institutions such as the Harbour and Ministry of Defence.

“We will be able to manage with that. The CEB is the one who first said they wanted the emergency power. They are the experts to advice on this. Now they are saying we don’t need it, so I am very happy to go with what they are saying as we save money,” he told Daily FT when asked why the tender was floated if the CEB already had a supply plan at hand.

The Ministry will also consider purchasing power from two independent power producers, which has already received Cabinet approval. However, this will be on the condition that they match the rate given by ACE Embilipitiya, which already has an agreement with the CEB.

“They are both retired plants, but there is one which will come to CEB in a year’s time. So, if they can match the rates, then we will consider buying from them,” he claimed.