Will CEB make an effort?

Dr. Janaka Ratnasiri has, in his recent article in The Island, has asked the question: ‘Will CEB make an effort’, meaning whether CEB will keep to the target of achieving 70% renewable energy supply by 2030. The reply is whether the government or whoever who set this target, consulted those stake holders, of the capabilities of both private and public sectors, knowing the institutional requirements, resources and most of all procedural difficulties, tender procedure, identifying locations for wind power after consulting land owners etc. If done, there appears to be no problem unless there is no political interferences. He speaks of ‘acquiring and operating a land terminal or FSRU are complex affairs and under the current situation lacks necessary expertise and the offers of India, Japan and South Korea and the government is reluctant to accept. The obvious reason may be the offer did not come from a desired country!

It would also be possible to keep to the target, if the government expedites the offer of a 200Mw solar plant to be set up in Jaffna and also the 400Mw. LNG plant to be installed at Hamabantota by Chinese to serve the Chinese Industrial estate. It may be the excess electricity from this plant could be purchased by CEB to supply the southern district and if the government desires, request China to add another plant of similar capacity and supply the entire southern region. That is exactly, what China desires and our politicians will work towards it. Rememeber, when the Norochcholai plant had frequent breakdowns, China offered to run same and sell electricity to CEB. This was vehemently opposed by CEB engineers and the then Minister for Power and Energy, stood by CEB engineers and rejected the offer. Is it only the Chinese who could run this pant efficiently? Is it that some vital information have not been imparted to our locals and kept secret? Then again, on the 4th additional 300Mw coal plant at Norochcholai, the government intends to offer the contract to China, without resorting to International tenders, perhaps as the other three plants are of Chinese make. The strangest request by China, is to run this 4th plant as a Joint Venture. This request is vehemently opposed by CEB engineers and it is hoped the Minister for Power and Energy, Dallas Alahapperuma will stand by CEB engineers.

By the foregoing, it would appear China is making an effort to gain entry into this vital sector for reasons left to be guessed. Whatever it be, it is best that the sector be in the hands of the state so that private sector establishments whose main concern is profits, are kept away from fleecing consumers.

This is something our professionals should bear in mind; they should warn the government to beware of.

G. A. D. Sirimal

Boralesgamuwa