‘Power battle for -profits’

The above captioned letter, by ‘Concerned Consumer’, for reasons better known to him to remain incognito, has, I gather, is mainly to attack the short period Minister for Power and Energy Ravi Karunanayaka, functioned, who is not only despised by him, but the whole country, along with Ranil Wickremrsinghe, for the downfall of the UNP and the political mess created.

Be that as it may, coming to the question of shortage of power, resulting in seeking the support of the private sector suppliers, if I remember right, and subject to correction, was also sought by his predicessor, Ranjith Siyambalapitiya. I also remember, reading in newspapers, one time Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka, not renewing two private suppliers. He may have had his own reasons.

What is the reason for the short-fall? As I see, subject to confirmation or correction by authorities, is the delay in awarding the tender for the construction of the LNG plant, at Kerawalapitiya, to the lowest bidder, as recommended by the Tender Board. Instead, the then Minister, Ranjith Siyambalapitiya, with his Secretary to the Ministry, Dr. Suren Batagoda, wanted the award to be made to the next lowest bidder, a Chinese Construction Company. This dragged on for over four years, resulting in the lowest bidder, a local company, a subsidiary of the CEB, I believe, sought legal remedy. If that award was made in time, the construction would have been completed before 2020, and the CEB could have avoided going for power purchase. One bold question, I pose, is, could not the PUCSL have intervened and settled the matter. Was it not PUCSL area of operation, rather than finding fault with CEB for not getting prior permission to shed power, which led to the PUCSL filing action in courts. This action, puts the Minister for Power and Energy, in a very humiliating position, to show the Ministry is inefficient, to tackle a minor issue. Then there was the case where the PUCSL had objected to the inclusion of a coal plant in its Long term, Least Cost Generation Plan, prepared by experienced knowledgeable Engineers of the CEB, taking into consideration, managing its own institution, financial aspects, political aspirations. local and global requirements, keeping upper most in mind to satisfy the consumer. This led to the delay in approving the LTLCGP. There may be several cases where the PUCSL had intervened in day-to-day activities of the CEB which could have disrupted, or delayed work, of the CEB. Minister for Power, Dallas Alahapperuma, as it is his own responsibility in running his Ministry and organisations under him efficiently as well, may have made representations to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who understanding and realising the difficulties the Minister has to face had instructed his Secretary, P. B. Jayasundera to issue instructions to scrap the PUCSL and transfer such functions to the Ministry of Planning.

One should agree with ‘Concerned Consumer’ when he concludes his essay by saying. “We need an authority able to look at all angles and costs as well as the future of power generation to ADVISE the government. We need someone to screen the suppliers for the best electricity rates for the consumers.” Yes, as an Advisory Body to advice on technical and engineering matters. I do not agree when he says, “If not PUCSL, then who” Why not accept the proposal of the President, who had directed his, Secretary P.B.Jayasundera, to inform the Secretary to the Treasury, to transfer the functions to the Ministry for Planning.

Others may say ‘unfair’ without knowing the problems the CEB has to face, political aspirations, keep the consumer satisfied, etc. It is only the person who has the wound who knows the pain and also seek a proper physician for the cure. So be it.

G. A. D. Sirimal

BORALESGAMUWA