Load shedding likely to continue as CEB experiences

fuel shortage: CPC unwilling to release oil

By Ifham Nizam

The national grid is without 270MW from the West Coast Power Plant, 170MW from the Kelanitissa Power Plant Complex, 108MW from Sapugaskanda and 40MW from Supplementary Plants.

The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) does not have sufficient stocks of diesel and the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) is not willing to release fuel till CEB settles unpaid bills.

A senior official said that lately they had paid Rs. 22 billion and the outstanding about was Rs. 64 billion.

CEB Spokesman Andrew Navamani, contacted for comment, said that the CEB had been able to manage with available supply on Sunday, but the situation would be different today.

Navamani added that if the CEB didn’t get diesel by tomorrow load shedding would continue.

Electricity demand had risen to a maximum of 2,470MW on Saturday.

Despite the current fuel crisis, 76 percent of the electricity demand was supplied by thermal power plants, including coal, while the hydropower generation has fallen to just 22 percent.

The CPC yesterday said that five ships carrying fuel would arrive here shortly.

CPC Chairman Sumith Wijesinghe said diesel petrol and jet fuel would be brought to the country by those ships.

The average daily fuel demand in the country is 6,000 metric tonnes, but on Saturday (19) the demand recorded an increase to 9,000 metric tonnes, he said.

The CPC Chief went on record saying that there were sufficient stocks of fuel here and it was ready to provide the necessary stocks of fuel including the CEB.