Power supply may be restricted to a few hours in SP if …

By Ifham Nizam

The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) would be compelled to restrict power supply to a few hours in the Southern Province if the water level of the 120MW Samanala Wewa Hydro Power reservoir receded fast, a high ranking CEB official said.

The Island learns that the Bank of Ceylon and the People’s Bank will provide loans amounting to Rs. 15 billion and Rs. 30 billion respectively to the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation shortly for purchasing fuel to operate thermal power stations to meet the shortfall.

Apart from the Samanala Wewa Hydro Power Station, the ACE Embilipitiya thermal Power Plant provides 120 MW to the Southern Province.

Hydro Power capacity has dropped to 70 percent from nearly 95 percent during the recent rains.

Another CEB official said that as the Sapugaskanda refinery had been closed for want of crude oil, there would be no production of furnace oil for power plants.

“Furnace oil will have to be imported urgently if we are to prevent blackouts in most parts of the country,” a senior Power Ministry official said.

Power Ministry Spokesman Sulakshana Jayawardena told The Island that the upcoming Polpitiya-Hambantota line would help tackle the anticipated problems, but he did not reveal when it would be a reality.