CEB faces daunting task of operating thermal power plants

Sri Lanka’s power generation is set to come down by 37 per cent within the next three days due to a severe shortage of diesel, furnace oil and Naphtha and a drop in water levels of hydro reservoirs compelling the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) to further extend the ongoing power cuts to at least 4-6 hours from the current daily three hours, several CEB engineers said.

This situation could only be solved if Lanka IOC can supply fuel for the CEB on time for the recovery of its collapsing thermal power generation today or tomorrow, they added.   

The government is running out of diesel for electricity generation as well as for transportation purposes as result of a dollar scarcity and improper management in importing fuel, they pointed out.

CEB spokesman, Engineer Andrew Navamani said “with the water levels dropping, it is possible that the power cut duration can increase again”.

However, Mr. Navamani said, no decision has been taken yet on such an increase in power cut.

Last week 25 per cent of the country’s power demand has been met by thermal power plants running with diesel and furnace oil.

The fuel for Kelanitissa combined cycle power plant with a 115 MW is sufficient only for today (Saturday) and its GT7 Generator will run around few more hours today as its fuel is dried up.

Fuel stock for Sapugaskanda’s two generators with a capacity of 100 MW is sufficient to run till July 5.

Meanwhile, the Sojits power plant which generates 163 MW is unable to generate power  as it has no fuel at the moment and the 270 MW Kerawalapitiya West Coast Power plant is going to shut down this evening (Saturday) due to lack of fuel.

Several more mini thermal power plans will be able to run with fuel sufficient for four days. One generator at Norochocholai coal power station has already shut down for repairs and the government is struggling to find US$ 9 million for repairs of another generator. (Bandula)