Unscheduled power cuts?

22 March 2019 03:32 am - 10 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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While stressing that the technical issue in the unit 2 generator of the Norochcholai coal power plant has been fully restored, Power and Energy Ministry Media Spokesman and Development Director Sulakshana Jayawardena said power outages could still be experienced due to the prevailing dry weather conditions.

Speaking to the Daily Mirror, he said the technical issue occurred in the unit 2 generator at the Norochcholai coal power plant had nothing to do with the prevailing power outages. However, several areas experienced continuous power outages on Monday and Tuesday after the unit 2 generator shut down due to a technical mishap on Monday (18).

He said unscheduled power outages could be experienced in some areas because of the insufficiency of electricity supply from hydro power plants which had a total capacity of 10,390 MW.

“We can provide electricity only through the thermal power plants because there are restrictions in the hydro power plants due to the dry weather conditions,” Mr. Jayawardena said.

He said the thermal power plants consisted of coal plants, oil power plants, and private power plants which had installed capacities of 900 MW, 600 MW and 600 MW respectively.

“Water capacities in the Hydro Power Complex like Castlereigh reservoir (9%) Maussakele reservoir (34%) cannot be freely used because we have to think of providing drinking water too,” he said.

“Water capacities in Kotmale, Victoria, Randenigala and Samanala Wawa reservoirs stand at 34%, 36%, 88%, 18 % respectively. However, we can’t use the Randenigala water capacity because we have to preserve water for the upcoming agricultural work (Yala Season),” Mr. Jayawardena said.

“We are trying to minimize the shortages and this is a short term issue,” he said.

He proceeded to say that after the Inter-monsoon Season in April, this issue would be rectified.

He highlighted that the ministry had not planned any power cut schedules yet. (Chathuranga Samarawikrama and Sheain Fernandopulle)

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Comments - 10

Ruwan Friday, 22 March 2019 06:09 AM

If there are unscheduled power cut no investor will risk investing in the country! what is the government doing? No proper plans at all!

Chris Friday, 22 March 2019 04:05 PM

To be fair, if they have investors, they will also probably be able to afford a generator.

Arnold Friday, 22 March 2019 06:26 AM

Small scale factories suffer a lot because of these unscheduled power cuts. Why cant the engineers issue a schedule like in the past?? I am sure even a small kid can make a schedule.

Harambe Friday, 22 March 2019 06:32 AM

The only thing that annoys me about this country

Tony Friday, 22 March 2019 07:40 AM

What are you people doing daily in your office , why not plan ahead for 5 years . You should know by now the weather patterns are not static . Your incompetence is amazing.

Eng.M.V.R.Perera Friday, 22 March 2019 07:47 AM

it can never be solved in the manner stated by Ravi the biggest 300 MW set available is kesrawalapitiya this should be instructed to to be connected to the the grid as a floating spinning reserve to take up any interuption to power in Sri Lanka

ANTON Friday, 22 March 2019 08:11 AM

BUT AS RAVI SAID , HE HAS CONTINUOUS POWER SUPPLY WITHOUT ANY INTERRUPTIONS WITH PUBLIC FUNDED GENERATORS.

Kingsley Wijesinhe Friday, 22 March 2019 09:37 AM

Why did he say earlier that after Norochcholai was repaired, there would be no further power cuts?

Mark Anandappa Friday, 22 March 2019 01:37 PM

This process goes through this time of the year , non of the governments had been able to find a solution.

Almaz Anzary Friday, 22 March 2019 04:37 PM

of course they have not planned any power cuts because nothing is ever PLANNED in this country....whether it is power generation, tax, export policy or for that matter even building roads, everything happens haphazardly or with other agendas where some one makes a buck. This is the sad plight of this country run by a bunch of rogues elected by us (m)asses

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Unscheduled power cuts?

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