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Norochcholai plant: Covid further delays repairs

14 Aug 2022

  • 100 repair staff infected
By Maheesha Mudugamuwa The completion of the ongoing major overhaul of the 300 MW Generation Unit 2 of the Lakvijaya Power Plant in Norochcholai is now expected to be delayed by another two weeks due to a Covid-19 outbreak. Earlier, the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) had planned to complete repairs on 31 August. However, according to the CEB, it will now be delayed by another two weeks since nearly 100 employees at the plant have contracted Covid-19. Speaking to The Sunday Morning, CEB Chairman N.S. Ilangakoon said the completion of the ongoing repairs would be delayed for another two weeks due to the employees being infected with Covid-19 along with a few other technical issues. “We planned to complete the repairs by 31 August, but now it could be delayed for another two weeks,” he added. Unit 2 of the Lakvijaya Power Plant was shut down for a scheduled major overhaul on 18 June. The current repairs are being carried out by nearly 400 employees, with around 250 Chinese experts coming down from China. However, it is learnt that 102 Chinese workers have contracted Covid-19. They have now been separated and are not in contact with other employees.   The work involvement of a Level A overhaul, which is ongoing, is estimated as 100 days with the involvement of 400 dedicated technical staff. However, this time the overhaul was planned to be completed within 75 days. During the overhaul, it was planned to carry out about 800 activities of all main systems and associated sub systems of the generating unit. The Norochcholai Power Plant has suffered several breakdowns and is linked to unexplained power outages, which are now under investigation.    


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