Presidential Task Force to regulate solar power generation using home gardens

By Ifham Nizam

Plans were underway to set up a Presidential Task Force to regulate solar power generation, using home gardens, Power Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi said yesterday, adding that steps would be taken immediately to alleviate the power crisis caused by the failure build new power plants that could contribute to the national grid.

She said steps would be taken soon to build a 105 MW thermal power plant.

Minister Wanniarachchi said so during a special inspection tour to monitor the current situation of power plants set up around Colombo to alleviate the challenging situation faced by the country in the face of daily electricity demand rising rapidly.

The Minister inspected the current condition of the Colombo Port Barge mounted Power Plant, the Kelanitissa Power Plant Complex  and Sojitz, Asia Power, Sapugaskanda, and the Systems Control Unit at Battaramulla.

Minister Wanniarachchi said as a government their primary responsibility was to provide uninterrupted, quality and affordable electricity to consumers.

However, she said the demand for electricity was increasing. “We must act swiftly to meet this challenge successfully. When I resigned as the Minister of Power and Energy in 2015, the CEB had already been transformed into a Rs. 15 billion profit making institution. 98% of the island was covered by electricity and the tariff was reduced by 25%.

She expressed concern about the current situation, adding that it had completely changed.

“The Electricity Board has become an institution with a huge debt burden. Since it has not built a single renewable power plant in the recent past, a large amount of fuel has to be expended on power generation”.

She added that the country should recover from that situation as soon as possible.

Plans were underway to add at least 1000 MW to the national grid this year, the Minister said. General Manager of the Ceylon Electricity Board, Dr. Rohantha Abeysekera, Chairman of the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council Kanchana Jayaratne and a number of senior officials of the Ceylon Electricity Board participated in the visit.