Daily two-hour power cuts till May

By Ifham Nizam

The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) would be forced be go for two-hour power daily cuts until May, a top official warned.

“When the third plant (300 MW) coal fired power plant at Norochchoalai is added to the system later this month, the situation may be much better,” he added.

About 115MW from the Sapugaskanda Power Plant and 60MW from the Colombo Port Barge was added to the system yesterday after the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) released fuel on Saturday.

Power sector regulator, the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) has approved scheduled the power cut, from today.

PUCSL Chairman, Janaka Rathnayake stated that power cuts lasting for one to two hours will take place from today. The CEB had requested the PUCSL’s permission for effecting the power cut, he said.

The 300 MW of power from the third unit of the Norochcholai Power Plant which has been closed for maintenance work for one month, will be restored shortly.

The Yugadanavi Plant in Kerawalapitiya 300MW Power Plant has not been operational since last month due to scheduled maintenance. It adds 150MW to the national grid.

The Island

learns that to minimise present power cuts, the CEB’s former AGM Janaka Aluthge has made arrangements to extend power purchase contracts.