PUCSL approves power cuts for tomorrow

The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) has approved the request made by the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) to have rotational power shedding for tomorrow.

The permission was granted due to lack of fuel supply for power generation.

Hence, PUCSL Chairman Janaka Ratnayake granted permission for a four hour and 40 minute-power cut for tomorrow for areas of A,B, C and 4 hours and 30 minutes in the other areas.

About 4,000 metric tons of fuel is required daily to generate electricity.

"Today (22) there was a requirement for 2,000 metric tons of fuel. As a result, 550MW power plants were shut down," he said.

Tomorrow's fuel requirement is 4,000 metric tons. But only 1,000 metric tons were supplied, he said. Accordingly, the fuel shortage for tomorrow is 3,000 metric tons, he said.

If there is such a shortage, 750 MW will be withdrawn from the national grid, the chairman said. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama)