13-hour power cut today

By Ifham Nizam

The Public Utilities Commission approved a CEB proposal for a 13-hour power cut for today (31).

This request follows a warning by the CEB Engineers Union (CEBEU) yesterday (30) that the present 10-hour power cuts, per day, would be further increased due to receding water levels in the hydro power generating reservoirs, coupled with a severe shortage of diesel and furnace oil needed to produce 750MW from thermal plants.

CEBEU President Anil Ranjith Induwara said the duration of interruptions to the power supply would have to be extended in the coming days while some engineers hinted it would be extended to 12 hours as the remaining stocks of fuel for power generation were fast running out.

The CEB top management also said that they had recovered nearly Rs. 40 billion from overdue bills of consumers, but at the same time electricity generation cost had increased by Rs. 20 per unit amounting Rs. 940 million a day.

He also said the fuel stocks at the Barge Mounted Power Plant at the Colombo port were sufficient only for three more days.

The CEBEU Chief said he believed that CEB was in a position to supply electricity if the required fuel was provided to them.

He urged the government and relevant stakeholders including the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation to expedite the measures to supply fuel.

Speaking on hydro power generation, he said that despite the water levels of reservoirs dropping drastically, the CEB was capable of supplying 300 MW during the daytime and 700 MW at night.

In response to a question raised by a media person, he said the people would be affected by power interruptions during the upcoming festive season if fuel stocks were not supplied and adequate rainfall was not received.