Electricity crisis around the corner – Ranawaka

By Ashwin Hemmathagama – Our Lobby Correspondent

Catchment areas receiving little rain for hydro power generation and the failure of the thermal power plants to meet the national electricity requirement will further expose the energy sector in September, according to Minister of Power and Energy Patali Champika Ranawaka.

Addressing the house yesterday, explaining the reasons for current failures in the electricity sector in Sri Lanka Minister Ranawaka said,

“Our hydropower generation is limited to 1,400MW. The electricity demand during the day time is 1,600MW and this goes up to 2,000MW at night. Unfortunately the thermal sector alone cannot meet this requirement. With the water levels of the reservoirs going down the hydropower generation are now limited to 300MW. This will further reduce and we will have to completely stop power generation in Victoria and Randenigala if the water levels decline drastically.

Failing of monsoons Sri Lanka would have a power crisis in September onwards.”

According to Minister Ranawaka, some electricity transmission networks were recently exposed to salt rains, which have led to short circuit power generation system and lead to shut down. “Due to the seriousness of our current position, a smaller technicality arising in the thermal power generation has a major impact, which is very unfortunate,” he said.

Addressing the ongoing labour action taken by some of the electricity board workers demanding for a 45% salary increase is absurd and the Government is unable to accommodate in the eyes of the Minister Ranawaka. “An average salary amounting to Rs. 66,000 is received by an employee of the Electricity Board. They get 14 salaries per annum comprised of a bonus and medical facilities. This January they received a 25 per cent salary increase,” added Minister Ranawaka.