Purchasing power from Turkish company CEB WAS ABLE TO SAVE RS.1 BILLION

BY SANDUN A JAYASEKERA

The Power, Energy and Business Development Ministry has saved Rs.1,000 million for the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) by purchasing 400 MWs of power from two barge mounted power plants from Turkish company, KarPower International DMCC for the cheapest possible rate at Rs. 24.80 per unit, Minister Ravi Karunanayaka said.

He said the CEB had earlier decided not to purchase power from private suppliers but the drought experienced in the first four months of the year and resultant drop of hydro power generation, compelled the CEB to purchase power from Private Power Suppliers (PPP) at around Rs.30 per unit. “However, the Power, Energy and Business Development Ministry has successfully negotiated with the Turkish power supplier to purchase 400 MWs at Rs.24.80 per unit, which is extremely advantageous. Normally, a unit of power costs around Rs.30 when the CEB purchases power from local suppliers. That is why we have been able to save about Rs.1 billion through this agreement,” Minister Karunanayaka stressed. If the CEB purchases power from private suppliers for a longer period, the cost of a unit will rise. That is why the agreements were signed for two barge mounted power plants for six months and nine months. According to CEB engineers, there is a shortage of 470 MWs in power supply. “If and when there was sufficient rain to increase the generation capacity of hydro power plants, the Power and Energy Ministry will have the option to terminate the power supply agreement with both diesel powered plants supplied by the KarPower International DMCC. Two diesel powered plants supplied by the KarPower International DMCC will generate 200 MWs each and will be connected to the national grid starting from this month. One barge mounted power plant anchored in Galle will start connecting 200 MWs of power to the national grid for six months from this months and Kerawalapitiya plant from September for nine months. The cabinet sub committee chaired by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has approved power purchase from Turkish company.

The barge mounted power plant anchored in Galle will start connecting 200 MWs of power to the national grid for six months from this month and Kerawalapitiya plant from September for nine months.