PUCSL tells CEB to submit action plan quickly to avert crisis

The energy sector regulator, the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL), has requested the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) to submit an implementation plan for constructing the power plants between 2017-2020 to avoid a power crisis.

PUCSL last month approved the CEB’s Least Cost Long Term Generation Expansion Plan (LCLTGEP) 2015-2034, and called for the power plants listed in the LCLTGEP 2017-2034, to be constructed before 2020 to be fast tracked.

“The demand for electricity is on the rise and we have warned about a possible power shortage in 2018. So the implementation of CEB’s approved generation expansion plan on time is key for Sri Lanka to sail through this crisis,” PUCSL Director General Damitha Kumarasinghe said.
PUCSL called on CEB to submit an implementation plan along with targets, before the October 28.
 “There is no other way. The plants listed in the LCLTGEP for the period of 2017 – 2020, should be immediately constructed and operated, to prevent the possible power shortage in year 2018 and beyond,” Kumarasinghe added.
The 2017-2020 LCLTGEP calls for the addition of 1,230 Megawatts (MW) of energy supply, with a net addition of 1,055 MW considering the thermal retirements.

The new additions will include 2 thermal power plants totaling 170 MW in Southern region, 105 MW gas turbines, a 300 MW natural gas power plant and several renewable energy power plants with the capacity of 655 MW which include three major hydro power plants totaling 170MW.
The remaining gap of the renewable energy supply is to be bridged by private suppliers, some of whose power purchase agreements are at the risk of being cancelled, unless construction of power plants starts before the end of this year.