Multi-billion rupee economic loss from island-wide power outage

Blackout led to automatic shutdown of Norochcholai coal power plant
Similar outage experienced in December 2023 due system failure
Ministry appoints committee to make recommendations for prevention of such electricity crises in the  future

By Kelum Bandara 

The economic loss of Sunday’s countywide blackout is  believed to be running into billions of rupees, though the Ceylon  Electricity Board (CEB) is yet to put out the exact figure, an official  said yesterday.   

The official told Daily Mirror that the blackout resulted  in the shutdown of the Norochcholai coal power plant which otherwise  generates around 900 megawatts of electricity, and the CEB is now under  compulsion to depend on other thermal sources till the plant is restored  within the next few days.  

The Norochcholai power plant shuts down automatically in the event of a countrywide power failure. In addition to the additional generation cost, the economic  activities came to an end due to the power failure on Sunday resulting  in losses.  

Asked about a rough calculation of the loss, an Energy  Ministry official said it could well run into billions of rupees, but  the CEB only would put forward the exact amount in the days to come.   

He said the Ministry appointed a committee yesterday to  make recommendations for the prevention of such electricity crises in the  future. It is in addition to the investigation being conducted by the  CEB to ascertain the exact reason for the blackout.   

Sri Lanka experienced an island-wide power outage for  nearly six hours due to a tripping of the grid station in Panadura when a  monkey came into contact with it, as was reported initially.  

Asked whether any act of sabotage is suspected, he said, “It is only a technical problem.    Sri Lanka experienced an island-wide power outage for  several hours Sunday after a system failure in one of the main  transmission lines, the country’s power and energy ministry said.  

Sri Lanka experienced a similar power outage in December 2023 after a system failure in one of the main transmission lines.    Sri Lanka largely depends on hydropower for power  generation, while coal and oil are used to cover the balance. During the  dry season, the country is compelled to use more thermal power for the generation of electricity.