Mixed signals from CEB on possible power shedding

By Ifham Nizam

Some engineers claimed yesterday that power shedding and random power cuts would take place was coal was in short supply at the Norochcholai coal power plant complex.

Earlier the CEB announced that there would be power cuts in several areas yesterday (22) as two generators at the Lakvijaya Power Plant at Norochchnolai had developed faults.

However, CEB top management says things will improve soon and they could manage immediate supply needs due to the drop in demand due to the festive season and holidays. “The problem will be sorted out before the New Year,” an official said.

However, other engineers warned that power shedding and random power cuts would take place due to the coal shortage

Engineers also said that a section of the officials wanted to go for emergency power purchases. They pointed out that the Norochcholai Power Plant Complex, when running at full capacity, provided 900MW to the national grid which is two-thirds of the country’s energy requirement.

“Each of the 300 MW units of the Norochcholai Power Plant would use between 650,000 and 700,000 tonnes of coal a year,” an official said.

A plant official told The Island: “Roughly 2,500 tonnes of coal per day is required per plant that is 7,500 for all three plants, with one plant already having technical problems and another is showing problems today (December 22),” he added.

A senior Electrical Engineer told The Island usually some 1.2 million metric tonnes of coal were imported annually. The Island learns there is 800,000 tonnes available at present.

He added that there were few hiccups recently when it came to spot tenders, however, long term tenders were continuing without any issues.