Udaya warns of longer power cuts as situation deteriorates further

‘Electricity deficit growing due to continuing drop in hydro-power generation

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila says the country is paying a very heavy price for failing to enhance electricity generation capacity since 2014.

Attorney-at-law Gammanpila, who is also the leader of Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) stresses ongoing unannounced power cuts are likely to be a regular feature due to what he called ‘system imbalance’ caused by sufficient power to meet the regular requirement.

The outspoken lawmaker warned that the duration of power cuts would be further extended sooner when the supply and demand gap widened.

Responding to another query, the Colombo District MP said that the CEB had no option but to switch off selected sections to avoid countrywide disruption of electricity. Whatever various interested parties say, power cuts were necessary and couldn’t be avoided, Minister Gammanpila said.

Minister Gammanpila said that he recently suggested a daily 90 minute power cut as there was no other option. Acknowledging that his proposal hadn’t received the required attention, Minister Gammanpila said that the situation would continue to deteriorate until all stakeholders reach a consensus on the issue.

According to the Minister, those who had been in authority since 2014 couldn’t absolve themselves of the responsibility for the current crisis.

Asked whether the failure on the part of the political leadership and those who had been at the CEB’s helm as well as trade unions was deliberate, Minister Gammanpila declined to comment. The minister pointed out that all stakeholders should examine the full picture if the country was to address the issue at hand properly. It would be a serious mistake to believe that the issue could be addressed by operating thermal power stations alone, MP Gammanpila said. Those who propagated the lie that the entire power requirement could be met through thermal power generation obviously didn’t understand the contribution made by hydro-power generation, the PHU leader said.

Had there been a proper strategy, the government could have initiated tender procedures to secure electricity from private operators to meet the shortfall. However, in the absence of such a strategy, emergency power purchases could be quite costlier at a time the cash-strapped government was experiencing a financial crisis. Perhaps there should be a genuine dialogue involving all stakeholders at least now, Minister Gammanpila said, asserting the energy situation was in a dicey situation. “Do we have a realistic view of the developing situation,” Minister Gammanpila asked, underscoring the importance of reaching a consensus among all stakeholders.

Appreciating India providing USD 500 mn through a new Line of Credit for the purchase of Indian oil products in addition to extending foreign exchange support of over USD 900 million to Sri Lanka, Minister Gammanpila emphasized the fuel supply remained at a critical stage. “There is no point in denying that fact. We are struggling, really struggling with no permanent solution in sight. That is the undeniable truth. Perhaps, the government should take the public into confidence. The public should be told of the exact situation and urged to bear up difficulties.”

Minister Gammanpila said that the situation could further deteriorate.

The energy Minister said that Sri Lanka was also grateful to China for providing a six-month loan facility to procure oil products. That would come to an end at the end of February, Minister Gammanpila said, adding that one more diesel shipment was scheduled to take place in terms of this agreement.

The Minister admitted that their negotiations with several other countries to procure fuel at concessionary terms hadn’t been successful. “We shouldn’t expect other countries to respond or come to our rescue the way India and China do,” Minister Gammanpila said.

The PHU leader dismissed Opposition criticism. Perhaps, those who had been in power in the 2015-2019 period should explain their failure to enhance power generation to meet the annual increase in the requirement. According to him, Sri Lanka needs to increase power supply by six percent annually.