Coal power plant to resume operations

The engineers of Sri Lanka’s Norochcholai coal power plant have said that damage to the plant was caused by a faulty oil seal in the lubricating pump.

The country’s power authority Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) says engineers are now working to replace the faulty seal and to recommence power generation by Sunday.

The engineers say that the repairs of the coal power plant were delayed due to the time needed for the machinery to cool.

The CEB earlier said around a fortnight is needed to cool off the machines before the engineers can inspect it.

The coal power plant broke down on 21 January for the third time in two months. The CEB has to spend Rs. 80 million per day to purchase electricity from the private sector to cater to the needs of the country when the coal power plant breaks down.

The US$ 450 million coal power plant that adds 300 megawatts to the national energy grid, commenced operations in March 2011. The plant has not been in operation for 35 days last year due to the mechanical failures. (www.colombopage.com)