Power cuts to be increased to ten hours daily

By Ifham Nizam

The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) would extend the power cuts to ten hours daily from today (30), the Ministry of Power yesterday said

Currently, the water levels in the reservoirs, used to generate electricity, were rapidly receding due to the severe dry weather conditions affecting the country, the ministry said.

The water level of Castlereagh Reservoir has dropped to 15.34 metres from the overflow level. The units of power that can be generated from the remaining volume of water are 07.3 Gigawatt hours, which is 07.7% of the total capacity of the Reservoir.

The Maussakelle Reservoir water level has dropped to 13.69 m from the overflow level, and it can generate 77.7 gigawatt hours of electricity, which is 27.4% of its total capacity.

The water level of Samanala Wewa Reservoir has dropped to 25.20 m from the overflow level. Accordingly, the remaining  water volume of the Samanala Wewa reservoir can generate 15.2 gigawatt units of electricity which is 11.4% of its total capacity.

The water levels in the main reservoirs of the Mahaweli complex to generate electricity are as follows: Kotmale Reservoir has dropped to 24.97 m from the overflow level. Accordingly, the water volume of the Kotmale Reservoir can generate 29.0 gigawatt hours of electricity and it is 20.3% of its total capacity.

Victoria Reservoir water level has dropped to 27.49 metres from the overflow level. Accordingly, the water volume of Victoria Reservoir can generate 133.3 gigawatt hours of electricity which is 30.1% of its total capacity.

The Power Ministry said water from these Mahaweli reservoirs to generate hydro power would have to be restricted as the country’s drinking water requirement and agricultural activities should be given priority as well.