Power and energy sector in peril – pot calling kettle black

It appears from reading news items in the daily newspapers, the government accusing the Ministry of Power and the CEB for the grave situation of this vital utility. The Chief Government Whip, Johnston Fernando in his usual form to get cheap publicity, has said in a news item titled ‘Haphazard power cuts are a result of a conspiracy’ and the Secretary to the Ministry of Finance in a news item appearing in the Sunday Times captioned ‘Finance Ministry hits out at Power Ministry’ accused in a very stinging manner placing the blame on the Ministry of Power and also the Ceylon Electricity Board [CEB] for incompetency in the management of this perilous situation. Here, before the Ministry of Power could respond, to the allegations, Dr. Tilak Siyambalapitiya, has given an authoritative professional explanation in his letter to The Island of 7th Feb under the title ‘SL Does Not Have Enough Power Plants To Meet Demand” where in he states “… Even if all the money in the world is available to buy fuel, with no outages of any plant, the capacity on the grid is simply not adequate to meet the customer demand. The 200-megawatt minimum shortage and the absence of 800 megawatt of new power plant can be hidden by ‘MINISTERIAL ORDER OR REGULATORY COMMISSION ORDER’, but not for long – the end is very near… who prevented the 300-megawatt power plant, the gas terminal and the 500-megawatt power plant being built over 2015 – 2020 is common knowledge”

To elaborate, gathering information from newspapers, to begin with the delay in approving the well-prepared Long Term Least Cost Generation Plan by knowledgeable experienced engineers of CEB, where PUCSL disputed the inclusion of a Coal Plant. Then came the cancellation of the Coal Plant at Sampur, by ill-informed President Maithripala Sirisena, who on his visit to India requested a LNG Plant instead. Tenders were called for the construction of a LNG plant at Kerawalapitiya and when the Tender Board recommended the acceptance of the lowest offer by a local firm, the then Minister insisted that the award be made to a Chinese Construction Company. This dragged on for over four years, the local tenderer resorting to legal action. With the new government coming to power, this was sorted out and I am not aware as to its present position.

The other is the bolt from the blue, where President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, cancelled the additional coal plant at Norochcholai and forced CEB to provide 70% renewable energy by 2030, without consulting the CEB of its capability in achieving this target. Then again the controversial awarding to an American firm NFE to set up a LNG Plant – without consulting the Minister of Power and also the CEB as the Chairman M. M. C. Ferdinando had admitted at a press conference.

On top of these interferences, came the appointment of a General Manager to the CEB, which CEBEU strongly protested and ultimately resolved by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on representations made. This too I believe, led to non-cooperation of the staff. A contended team of employees is sine quo non for efficient working of any organisation. That is a fundamental requirement and knowledge.

The other is the separation of the subject of Power from Energy, and having two ministries which had never been before. If the two were under one ministry, then the question of fuel supply to the CEB by the CPC could have been settled internally. Who is the wise guy who advised the Prime Minister in this regard in apportioning Cabinet portfolios.

Simple argument is why force the CEB or the Ministry for Power to undertake or cancel projects without consulting the real operator-CEB, and expect miracles to happen.

Finally, the biggest blunder the government made was to remove Dullas Alahapperuma on a cabinet reshuffle, when he had pledged to make the CEB a profit-making body and had taken certain steps towards achieving it, including the request for PUCSL not to interfere with the CEB which was approved by the President and overruled by Prime Minister who was also the Minister of Finance. I remember, him saying that in a certain month, CEB recorded a profit. Does this mean government does not appreciate honest and hardworking ministers?

These are some of my views, based on what I have read in newspapers and my understanding or insinuations may be questionable, in which case I tender my apologies

G. A. D. Sirimal

BORALESGAMUWA