Sri Lanka CEB warns of likely increase in power cut duration over lack of diesel
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s ongoing power cuts could be extended from the current daily three hours due to continuous diesel shortage for thermal power plants amid water levels in reservoirs are declining , state run utility provider, Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) said.
The government is running out of diesel for electricity generation as well as for transportation purposes as it does not have adequate US dollars to import fuel.
“We are running out of diesel to operate thermal power plants,” Andrew Navamani, CEB spokesman told EconomyNext.
“And with the water levels dropping, it is possible that the power cut duration can increase again”
However, Navamani said, no decision has been taken yet on such an increase in power cut.
Even though the hydro power plants contributed for electricity generation in the country, still the majority of the power is being generated through thermal power plants, the government data showed.
The last consignment under the Indian credit line arrived in Sri Lanka on June 16.
The expected 500 million US dollar credit line from Indian EXIM Bank has not been finalised yet by Indian officials, Sri Lanka government officials have said.
According to the CEB data, 59.7 percent of the total power needed for June 30 was generated through thermal power plants while around 34.1 percent was generated through the hydro power plants. The rest were from other sources including solar and wind power.
Thermal power generation has increased by nearly 6 percent compared to a week earlier while hydro power generation has dropped around 2 percent.
According to the status data issued by the CEB, several key catchment area that fed water to Randenigala, Samanala wewa, Rantambe and Bowatenna have not received any rainfall in the recent past. (Colombo/ July 01/2022)
