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Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera at the media briefing yesterday
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Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera yesterday confirmed that electricity tariffs will be revised once again in January.
“The necessary details and a report to revise electricity tariffs will be presented to the first Cabinet of Ministers meeting on 2 January,” he told journalists yesterday.
His comments come after the meeting of Cabinet Ministers on Monday did not take up the pro-posal to hike power tariff which was mooted earlier. Wijesekara also categorically denied claims that the three units of the Norochcholai power plant will be non-operational at the same time.
“We have scheduled maintenance for the plant for 180 days, but none of them are happening sim-ultaneously putting the power supply in jeopardy. We have identified that during the maintainable period, there will be other power plants to ensure uninterrupted supply. This, I categorically deny claims of the unions,” he emphasised.
On 10 August, tariffs were increased by an average of 75% across the board, after a lapse of nine years. Nevertheless, the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) maintains that the revision is inadequate due to the demand increase for power generation.
However, Minister Wijesekera categorically rejected that 10-hour daily power cuts will be imposed in January, noting the claims made by certain unions attached to the CEB has no basis to impose a 10-hour power outage from January.
On Tuesday, CEB Engineers Association President Nihal Weeraratne said 10-hour power cuts could be enforced in the country after the three generators of the Norochcholai Coal Power Plant cease to operate when coal stocks run short by 31 December.
As per him, CEB expects to get 38 coal ships containing 60,000 tons of coal by 15 April 2023 and the five shipments received so far are only sufficient till December 31. After April, seas off the Western coast are too rough to unload ships.
“This can be managed by limiting the power plants’ utilisation to one or two plants which will cause extended power cuts. Currently, we are facing two hours and 20 minutes power cuts, but after December it will be extended to 10 hours,” Weeraratne added.
The sixth ship is due on 6 January, and it takes five days for the unloading process which may force the CEB to extend the power cut for 10 hours at least until January 11, he said.
He also said that if all three generators fail, power cuts of more than 10 hours will be enforced as the Norochcholai Power Plant fulfils 45% of the country’s electricity demand.
Weeraratne said as water levels for hydropower plants have decreased to 75%, it is uncertain whether hydropower could reach its maximum capacity over the next few months.
The Union also warned that the country could come to a standstill.
Separately, Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka Chairman Janaka Ratnayake also said if steps are not taken promptly to bring down coal shipments, lengthy power cuts will be imposed from Janu-ary.
He pointed out that although Sri Lanka requires 38 coal shipments for next year, only six have ar-rived thus far.
Minister Wijesekera however rejected such claims made by factions with vested interests.
The Minister also said power cuts will not be enforced on the 24, 25and 31 December and 1 Janu-ary.
