News

CEB admits Mannar Wind Power farm not fully connected to national grid

Published

4 years ago

2021/03/18

By Ifham Nizam

The Ceylon Electricity Board engineers had failed to supply the much-needed 100MW from the Mannar Wind Power farm to the national grid and were delaying other projects that are in the pipeline in order to go for expensive emergency power purchases, a senior CEB union leader said.

The CEB Technological Engineers’ and Superintendents’ Union President A.G.U. Nishantha told The Island yesterday that the Mannar plant provided only between 20 and 30MW to the national grid.

“We have some 1,000 engineers but they had failed in their focus in getting the much needed supply,” he added.

When contacted, CEB Chief Vijitha Herath told The Island that they did their utmost as predicted by March due to technical issues, however, stressed that by mid-April remaining 70 per cent would be connected to the national grid.

He also said that they would also cut down on Supplementary Power purchases from 128MW requested last year to about 75MW.

Engineer Herath also expressed confidence that despite the dry period, the country’s reservoir water level was manageable.

Nishantha said that hydro catchment levels had dropped to nearly 20 per cent and the CEB had to cover the shortfall with expensive thermal power.

He also charged that projects were being delayed and cheap power plants were being sidelined, a matter that needed to be discussed at length.

Nishantha stressed that eventually to meet the continuing power demand, the Board would be forced go for additional power purchases at a higher cost.

Dismissing rumours, power sector regulator Public Utilities Commission (PUCSL) Chief Janaka Rathnayake assured that there wouldn’t be any blackouts or power shedding in the country despite March and April generally being termed as dry months.

PUCSL Chairman told The Island that there was no drought as such and at present water levels in the reservoirs was manageable. The reservoir capacity stood at 850MWh which was much more than in the previous year.

A senior electrical engineer yesterday said that the problems would arise if the rains failed between May and June over catchment areas.

He also said that the supplementary requirement was about 128MW to be taken from those plants that had been providing power as usual and there is no additional request as such despite the growing energy need between five and six per cent.

CEB earlier this month spelled out the need of the supplementary requirement especially after the Covid pandemic wreaked economic havoc worldwide.

All News Advertisement

Latest News

Heat index is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in Eastern and North-central provinces and Monaragala, Hambantota, Jaffna, Mullaittivu, Kilinochchi, Vavuniya and Kurunegala districts

Published

11 hours ago

2025/04/27

Priyan

Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology at 3.30 p.m. 26 April 2025, valid for 27 April 2025.

The public are warned that the Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in Eastern and North-central provinces and Monaragala, Hambantota, Jaffna, Mullaittivu, Kilinochchi, Vavuniya and Kurunegala districts.

The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and this is the condition that is felt on your body. This is not the forecast of maximum temperature. It is generated by the Department of Meteorology for the next day period and prepared by using global numerical weather prediction model data.

Effect of the heat index on human body is mentioned in the above table and it is prepared on the advice of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services.

ACTION REQUIRED

Job sites: Stay hydrated and takes breaks in the shade as often as possible.
Indoors: Check up on the elderly and the sick.
Vehicles: Never leave children unattended.
Outdoors: Limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade and stay hydrated. Dress: Wear lightweight and white or light-colored clothing.

Note:
In addition, please refer to advisories issued by the Disaster Preparedness & Response Division, Ministry of Health in this regard as well. For further clarifications please contact 011-7446491.

Latest News

Minister of Foreign Affairs pays his last respects to Pope Francis

Published

11 hours ago

2025/04/27

Priyan

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath represented Sri Lanka at the funeral of Pope Francis on Saturday [26]

News

RW to visit CIABOC on Monday

Published

12 hours ago

2025/04/27

Thilina Walpola

Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe will appear before the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery and Corruption (CIABOC) tomorrow (28) over the statement he had made on MP Chamara Sampath Dassanayake, his lawyers have informed the Commission.

Accordingly, the former President will appear before the commission at 9.30am on Monday.

Wickremesinghe was initially summoned by the Commission to CIABOC on April 17 in relation to a statement he had made about the corruption case filed against NDF (gas cylinder) MP Dassanayake.

In response to the previous summons, Wickremesinghe had indicated that he is prepared to appear before the commission but requested a different date citing that his lawyers will not be available in Colombo during the New Year holiday period.

Accordingly, a new was provided and Wickremesinghe requested to appear before the commission at 09.30 a.m. on Thursday (April 25).On April 7, Wickremesinghe had said that MP Dassanayake withdrew the fixed deposits belonging to the Uva Provincial Council, over which he is now facing corruption charges, in accordance with a circular issued during Wickremesingher’s tenure as Prime Minister.

The former President questioned whether the MP’s arrest over the matter was in response to Dassanayake’s vocal criticism of the government in parliament.

The sitting MP is currently in remand custody for allegedly misappropriating a sum of Rs. 1 million of the Uva Provincial Council in 2016.

He was taken into custody on March 27, over three separate corruption-related cases.

The Colombo Magistrate’s Court previously granted bail in the cases filed against him but he remains in remand custody due to an order issued by the Badulla Magistrate’s Court.

According to the CIABOC, Dassanayake had solicited funds from three state banks, claiming they were intended to provide bags for preschool children in the province.

Two banks complied, granting him Rs. 1 million and Rs. 2.5 million, which were later transferred to his foundation account.

However, when a third bank refused to provide funds, Dassanayake reportedly retaliated by withdrawing the Uva Provincial Council’s fixed deposits from that institution.The CIABOC filed a case against the MP, citing the government incurred a financial loss of Rs. 17.3 million due to his actions.