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Uninterrupted power supply: No space for breakdowns  

07 Mar 2021

  • Thermal and coal plants running at full capacity  

  • Emergency power purchasing inevitable: Engineers  

  Concerns have been raised over the Ceylon Electricity Board's (CEB) ability to provide uninterrupted power supply to the nation in the coming months, as the country’s electricity generation is currently dependent on thermal oil and coal power.  Hydropower generation has been drastically reduced due to the reduction of rainfall during the past few weeks and the only coal power plant in Norochcholai is currently running on full capacity together with the thermal oil power plants in the system.  Nevertheless, the uninterrupted functioning of the Norochcholai Coal Power Plant is questionable when considering that breakdowns at the plant have been common since its inception. Having no options right now, the CEB’s preparedness and the assurance for providing uninterrupted power supply in the coming dry season are in question.  As per CEB statistics, hydropower generation at present is only 15.5% of the total power generated. A total of 43.1% of the power requirement is fulfilled via thermal coal, that is basically from Norochcholai, while thermal oil generation stands at around 40.29%.  In such a backdrop, the CEB ruled out the widely speculated emergency power requirement earlier this year, as it assured that the current demand could be managed by the existing power generation capabilities.   CEB assures power plants enough at present   Speaking to The Sunday Morning, CEB Chairman Eng. Vijitha Herath said the existing power plants together with the already approved 130 MW of supplementary power were enough at present.  “The Norochcholai power plants are functioning at their full capacity and all other power plants are also supplying electricity without an issue despite there being a reduction of hydropower generation,” Eng. Herath noted. “We don’t have an issue, as the existing power plants are functioning at its fullest capacity. A problem will arise only if there is an issue with the existing plants,” he added.  Last year, the Cabinet rejected the proposal made by the CEB to extend the existing Power Purchasing Agreements (PPAs) with private power companies (PPCs).  In a backdrop where the Cabinet has rejected the proposal made by the CEB to extend the existing PPAs with the PPCs, The Sunday Morning learnt that the CEB is yet to decide on how it should fill the power generation gap that is predicted to arise as a result of the receding hydropower generation during the drought period. Earlier, the authorities had forecast a reduction in rainfall, especially in April; therefore, there would be restrictions on hydropower generation. To mitigate it, the CEB recommended that around 170 MW would need to be added to the national grid on a supplementary basis.  At the end of last year, the deficit was said to be around 300 MW.  In order to meet the forecasted electricity demand of 22,501 GWh by 2025, the presently installed capacity of 4,217 MW has to be increased to 6,966 MW by 2025. As per the present medium-term power generation plan, it appears that a capacity of 2,749 MW has to be added to the system to cater to the demand by 2025.     Emergency power purchase inevitable?   Speaking to The Sunday Morning, a senior engineer at the CEB stressed that going for emergency power purchasing was inevitable in order to avoid possible power cuts.  According to him, this year, the CEB had to go for emergency power purchasing to fill the energy deficit. “Last year, we had good rains and therefore, we had good hydropower generation, but this year, we can’t exactly say that we will be receiving the same amount of rainfall,” he added.  As learnt by The Sunday Morning, all plans pertaining to major power plants expected from 2015, as per the generation plan of 2013, were cancelled. However, during that time, as highlighted by an official attached to the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) who wished to remain anonymous, the CEB had purchased emergency power in 2016, 2017, and 2018 amounting to 155 MW, 180 MW, and 320 MW, respectively.  From 2016-2019, not a single MW of energy had been added to the system’s capacity, and as a result, the crisis was aggravated during that period.    Power plant idle   Speaking to The Sunday Morning, energy expert Dr. Vidura Ralapanawa said that there is no proper analysis to show how much power is needed and how much we are short of. The CEB hasn’t proven a shortage in a way that will enable the Cabinet to take a decision. He stressed that the CEB has been criminally negligent of one of their own power plants – the 163 MW Kelanitissa Combined Cycle Power Plant – which is the largest thermal power plant the CEB owns.  “They shut it down for repairs in June 2018. It has not been repaired. One of the parts that were broken has not been procured. Why is this power plant not online?” he questioned.   He also noted that the cabinet paper misstates certain elements regarding the ACE power deal.  “They took some of the information from the CEB and twisted it. If the Cabinet is misled by the Ministry on facts and figures, then the Cabinet can’t make a correct decision. The Cabinet is misled by the Ministry Secretary,” he alleged.  Highlighting the proposal to extend the PPAs, he said: “There is no provision in the CEB Act to extend the PPA. The last Government also did it and the PUCSL didn’t accept it. The Ministry should have simply said one year is not enough and let’s do it for three years. Knowingly or not, the Cabinet also fell. It's very risky to say you don’t need it. But, we don’t have a good enough analysis.”  Due to lack of proper power plants, the country’s whole electricity system was dependent on the Norochcholai Coal Power Plant, and if there is a breakdown in that power plant, the CEB Engineers’ Union said the situation would be at its worst. Meanwhile, the questions raised by experts were based on one argument: Why does the CEB only go for emergency power whenever there is a shortage?   


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