Local engineers still cannot restore coal power plant without Chinese expertise

By Ifham Nizam

The debt-ridden Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has to pay USD 60 million to Chinese engineers operating the country’s sole coal fired power plant complex at Norochcholai, and the amount would further increase with another one-year extension of their contract, informed sources said adding that the maintenance of the first plant would be completed by Friday.

The Island learns that some 35 Chinese engineers’ contracts cost CEB more than USD 60 million by 2021.

Plans are underway to extend the contract by another year despite stiff opposition from a senior official at the Power and Energy Ministry.

Engineers at the plant confirmed that Chinese expertise could not be matched by the local technical experts and they would have to depend on the Chinese experts.

“Even after the total blackout on 03 December 2021, Chinese experts had to visit here to resolve technical problems,” an official said.

Meanwhile, the electricity sector regulator, the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) yesterday instructed the CEB to increase thermal and hydro power generation due to the breakdown at the first turbine at Lak Vijaya Power plant at Norochcholai.

The PUCSL also issued instructions to maintain the present three hours and 20 minutes daily power cut without any increase.

A 300 MW generator at the Norochcholai power plant developed a defect on Tuesday (o3).

Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera told journalists that it would take another five days to repair the generator.