News
10-hour power cuts from Jan if coal shipments delayed: CEB union
By ROSHANI FERNANDO
ECONOMYNEXT –Sri Lanka could face power cuts of as long as as 10 hours a day in January if sufficient coal does not arrive in time to keep a base load coal plant in operation, state-run Ceylon Electricity Board’s engineers union warned.
The Chinese-built three-unit Lakvijaya Coal Power Plant, more commonly known as the Norochcholai Coal Power Plant (NCPP) has received only 5 ships out of 38 ordered so far.
Nihal Weeraratne, President of the Ceylon Electricity Board Engineering Union (CEBEU) said Sri Lanka had failed to bring down required coal on time.Sri Lanka faced forex shortages after economic bureaucrats printed money to suppress rates and the country eventually defaulted. Earlier suppliers used to give credit to Sri Lanka but now energy suppliers are less willing to do so.
The state-run Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) expects to get 38 coal ships containing 60,000 metric tons of coal by by April 15, 2023 and the five shipments so far they have received are only sufficient till December 31. After April seas off the Western coast is too rough to unload ships.
“This can be managed by limiting the power plants utilization to one or two plants that will cause extended power cuts. Currently we are facing 2 hours and 20 minutes’ power cuts but after December it will be extended to 10 hours,” Weeraratne told a media briefing on Tuesday.
The sixth ship is due on January 6, 2023 and it takes a period of 5 days for the unloading process which may force the CEB to extend the power cut for 10 hours at least until January 11, he said.
The Union said 7500 metric tons of coal is needed to run the three units of the plant and since they are running out of coal they will switch with one or two units.
“We can’t use hydro power since the water level is only 75 percent and we can’t use it to produce
electricity as the first priority of water is for drinking water, then for agricultural activities, and thirdly for electricity,” Weeraratne said.
The National People’s Power (NPP) polled 2,260 votes (46.18%) to secure 9 of the 19 seats in the Tangalla Urban Council at todays. Local Authorities Election.
THe Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJ) polled 1,397 votes to secure five seats while the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) polled 795 votes to secure 3 seats.
The United National Party (UNP) and the Sarvajana Balaya secure one seat each.
Voting commenced at 7.00am to elect members to 339 local councils in the island.
Voting is being held at 13,579 polling centers and will end at 4.00 p.m.
Vietnamese President Luong Cuong warmly welcomed President Anura Kumara Disanayake during an official ceremony held in Hanoi on Monday (05) morning
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake was accorded a ceremonial welcome with full military honours upon his arrival at the Presidential Palace of Vietnam. He also took part in the inspection of the Tri-Forces Guard of Honour and the playing of the national anthems of Vietnam and Sri Lanka. The two leaders then introduced members of their respective delegations before proceeding for bilateral discussions during which both nation assessed their progress, explored avenues for future collaboration and signed Memoranda of Understanding.
Vietnam and Sri Lanka have upheld robust and enduring ties since they established diplomatic relations in 1970. and this visit aims to strengthen political trust and foster effective collaboration across multiple sectors between the two nations.
Sri Lanka and Vietnam engage in annual bilateral trade, primarily in exports, totalling around US$200 million. Both nations aspire to elevate this trade to US$1 billion in the near future.
President Dissanayake’s visit highlights Sri Lanka’s deep commitment to its longstanding friendship with Vietnam and demonstrates a mutual resolve to enhance collaboration in traditional sectors while exploring new opportunities in digital transformation, the digital economy, energy transition, artificial intelligence and connectivity.
[PMD]
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