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GoSL-New Fortress agreement: Engineers frown on modus operandi, gas supply contract
By Ifham Nizam
The government had done the right thing when it came to attracting investment into the energy sector, but the methodology it adopted was questionable, especially in signing such an important deal so hastily at midnight, senior independent engineers said.
They told The Island that with regard to New Fortress (NF) buying shares in Yugadhanavi it boiled down to a foreign direct investment at a time the country badly needed foreign exchange.
The government has signed a share sales agreement with NF to sell 40% of shares held by GOSL in Yugadhanavi power plant for USD 250 million, which is in line with the government Chief Valuer’s valuation as stated by GOSL.
“After all, the investor has to take his return through dividends from operations over 15 years and convert it to repatriate. Dividend declaration would be decided by the majority of shareholders and depend on availability of cash. When considering Sri Lanka’s current rating (C grade) this single investment of USD 250 million is a substantial contribution in terms of boosting foreign reserves and builds confidence in other investors,” a senior engineer said.
With NFE’s investment in the Floating Storage Regasification Unit (FSRU) terminal, overall foreign exchange inflow would be nearly USD 300 million.
A senior engineer at the Kerawalapitiya Plant said that CEB’s concern should be the gas price which would have a direct impact on its operations.
The senior engineer expressed concern about allowing FSRU terminal project to NF while a tender called by the CEB for the FSRU was being evaluated.
“Sri Lankan government being able to sell 40% for a 10-year-old heavy fuel oil (HFO) fired power plant for USD 250 million was a good deal but the problem is that it was linked to the gas supply, the top engineer said.
As far the West Coast Power Ltd., the owner of Yugadhanavi power plant, GOSL has 50%, EPF has 27% and LECO has 18.2% and Lakdhanavi has 4.8%.
A senior engineers said, ” The value of 250 USD for 40% is a good price on an assets base and future income based. The CEB will pay all future capacity charges in Sri Lankan rupees. There will be no change in capacity or fixed charges because a foreign investor is coming in. PPA and IA do not prevent change of shareholders. Similar changes in shareholding happens in the AES power plant, which is now owned by Sojitz Japan.
With the sale of shares the GOSL has allowed NF to supply Natural gas to Yugadanavi and the new power plant to be constructed. This could be a concern for the CEB.
Yugadhanavi now operates with Low Sulfur HFO, which is an imported product supplied through CPC; it is more expensive than normal HFO. However, at present, CPC refines and supplies low sulfur HFO.
When Yugadanavi operates on natural gas, the power capacity can be increased by 10% and fuel efficiency will be better. Therefore the overall tariff to the CEB will be lower than operating with HFO.
The new power plant to be built by NFcan run on natural gas or diesel only.
The issue may be how a US company has been selected to buy shares and supply gas. Selling shares is GOSL’s prerogative, which other shareholders or the CEB cannot challenge.
The U.S. Embassy in Colombo welcomed the U.S. Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, former National Basketball Association (NBA) and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) players Stephen Howard and Astou Ndiaye, from June 8 through 14.
The Public Diplomacy section of the U.S. Embassy said that it would launch a weeklong basketball program intended to harness the unifying power of sports, made possible through collaboration with Foundation of Goodness and IImpact Hoop Lab.
While in Sri Lanka, Howard and Ndiaye, both retired professional basketball players, will conduct a weeklong program, Hoops for Hope: Bridging Borders through Basketball. The Sports Envoys will lead basketball clinics and exhibition matches and engage in leadership sessions in Colombo and Southern Province for youth aged 14-18 from Northern, Uva, Eastern and Western Provinces, offering skills and leadership training both on and off the court. The U.S. Envoys will also share their expertise with the Sri Lanka Basketball Federation, national coaches, and players, furthering the development of basketball in the country. Beyond the clinics, they will collaborate with Sri Lankan schoolchildren to take part in a community service project in the Colombo area.
“We are so proud to welcome Stephen and Astou as our Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, to build on the strong people-to-people connections between the United States and Sri Lanka,” said U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung. “The lessons that will be shared by our Sports Envoys – communication, teamwork, resilience, inclusion, and conflict resolution – are essential for leadership development, community building, equality, and peace. The U.S. Sports Envoy program is a testament to our belief that sports can be a powerful tool in promoting peace and unity.”
SJB Colombo District MP Mujibur Rahuman in parliament demanded to know from the government the reasons for CEB suspending the leave of all its employees until further notice from Thursday.
MP Rahuman said that the CEB has got an acting General Manager anew and the latter yesterday morning issued a circular suspending leave of all CEB employees with immediate effect until further notice.
“We demand that Minister Kanchana Wijesekera should explain this to the House. This circular was issued while this debate on the new Electricity Amendment Bill was pending. There are many who oppose this Bill. The Minister must tell parliament the reason for the urge to cancel the leave of CEB employees,” the MP said.However, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena prevented Minister Wijesekera responding to the query and said that the matter raised by MP Rahuman was not relevant.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) successfully concluded the 8th Annual CIPM Symposium, which took place on 31st May 2024. Themed “Nurturing the Human Element—Redefining HRM in a Rapidly Changing World,” the symposium underscored the pivotal role of human resource management (HRM) in today’s dynamic global landscape. Since its inception in 1959, CIPM has been dedicated to advancing the HR profession through education, professional development, and advocacy, solidifying its position as Sri Lanka’s leading professional body for HRM.
Ken Vijayakumar, the President of the CIPM, graced the occasion as the chief guest. The symposium commenced with the welcome address by the Chairperson, Prof. Arosha Adikaram, followed by the Web Launch of the Symposium Proceedings and Abstract Book by the CIPM President. The event featured distinguished addresses, including a speech by Chief Guest Ken Vijayakumar, President of CIPM, and an address by Guest of Honor Shakthi Ranatunga, Chief Operating Officer of MAS Holdings Pvt. Ltd., Sri Lanka.
The symposium also featured an inspiring keynote address by Prof. Mario Fernando, Professor of Management and Director of the Centre for Cross Cultural Management (CCCM) at the University of Wollongong, Australia.
Vote of Thanks of the inauguration session was delivered by Dr. Dillanjani Weeratunga, Symposium Co-chair.
The symposium served as a comprehensive platform for researchers to present their findings across a wide range of critical topics in HRM. These included Cultural Diversity and Inclusion, Talent Development and Retention, Ethical Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility, Adapting to Technological Advancements, Mental Health and Well-being at Work, Global Workforce Challenges, Employee Empowerment, and Reskilling and Upskilling.
The plenary session was led by Prof. Wasantha Rajapakse. Certificates were awarded to the best paper presenters during the valedictory session, followed by a vote of thanks delivered by Kamani Perera, Manager of Research and Development.
The annual symposium of CIPM was a truly inclusive event, attracting a diverse audience that spanned undergraduates, graduates, working professionals, research scholars and lecturers. This widespread interest highlights the symposium’s significance in the field of HRM, offering a unique opportunity for everyone to network and learn from scholarly brains.The CIPM International Research Symposium was sponsored by Hambantota International Port, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), E B Creasy & Co. PLC, and Print Xcel Company.
US sports envoys to Lanka to champion youth development
Rahuman questions sudden cancellation of leave of CEB employees
