Plant’s output cut from 270 MW to 140 MW amidst dwindling stocks; energy analysts warn system remains “at a razor’s edge”

By Ifham Nizam

The Norochcholai coal-fired power plant is now digging into the last dredges of its coal stock, with two operational units forced to slash generation from around 270 MW to just 140 MW on Sunday as the plant ran critically short of fuel, according to independent energy analysts and sources familiar with the National System Operator (NSO).

The sudden reduction of approximately 130 MW in coal generation has once again exposed the fragile state of the country’s power supply arrangements, with the plant understood to have coal stocks sufficient only until Friday night.

“This is not how a coal plant is expected to operate. They are digging up the last dredges of coal from the plant,” an independent energy analyst told The Island.

The analyst questioned why the units had been allowed to reach this stage without earlier intervention, arguing that at least one unit should have been deloaded around 10 days ago to conserve the remaining coal.

Had that been done, the analyst said, the country could also have reduced its dependence on more expensive diesel-fired generation during the period when

coal stocks were being conserved.

The latest NSO generation figures highlight the continuing pressure on the system.

Around 7 p.m. on Sunday, when the night peak was reached, total demand stood at 2,552.7 MW. Coal contributed only 282 MW, while major hydro accounted for 1,215.8 MW and thermal-oil generation for 791.9 MW.

The night peak of 2,552.7 MW was substantially higher than the daytime peak of 2,246 MW, according to the NSO Generation Summary for August 30.

The most immediate concern is the remaining coal stock at Norochcholai.

Sources said the plant has coal only to Friday night, making the timing of the next shipment critical.

The first shipment under the emergency arrangement is expected to arrive on Friday, September 4, but the coal unloading will have to begin on the same day if

the power plant is to continue operating without further significant deloading.

That creates another potential vulnerability, with rough sea conditions posing an additional challenge to unloading operations.

Energy sector sources said that even the arrival of the September 4 shipment would not completely eliminate the danger.

The next shipment under the new coal tender would need to commence unloading around September 15. Any significant delay beyond that could again force the Norochcholai units to operate at reduced output.

“We are still at a razor’s edge”

The independent energy analyst said the situation should not be viewed merely as a question of whether a particular vessel arrives on time.

The situation also means that any further reduction in coal generation could have a direct impact on the use of oil-fired power generation, potentially increasing the cost of electricity generation.

The latest NSO figures already show the important role being played by thermal-oil generation during the evening peak, when demand rises sharply.

The analyst questioned the rationale behind allowing the coal units to continue operating at higher loading until stocks reached critically low levels instead of taking measures earlier to stretch the available inventory.

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has informed the Supreme Court that it would not tender written submissions in respect of the petitions challenging the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution, which were heard on September 1 and 2.

The BASL said it had initially decided not to make written submissions after being deprived of the right of reply when the Solicitor General, appearing for the State, made submissions and explained the rationale and justification for the Bill.

The BASL pointed out that the Solicitor General, who made submissions at the end of the second day of the hearing, had not made a policy document available to the petitioners.

It also said the petitioners had not been given an opportunity to respond orally to the Solicitor General’s submissions or to address the Court on certain questions raised by the judges during their exchanges with the Solicitor General. (SF)

The Communist Party of Sri Lanka (CPSL) has strongly objected to the Ministry of Defence’s statement on 1 September that Defence Secretary Sampath Thuyacontha has invited the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) to engage and cooperate with Sri Lanka.

CPSL General Secretary Dr. G. Weerasinghe has issued the following statement: “According to the Ministry’s official press release, Thuyacontha held discussions with senior NATO officials, including Admiral Guiseppe Cavo Dragone, Chair of the NATO Military Committee and senior advisor to the political leadership of NATO member states on the sidelines of the Chiefs of Defence Conference in Canada.

The discussions reportedly covered exchange of military personnel, sharing of information and expertise, and military modernisation involving advanced technology and cyber capabilities.

These developments indicate a clear shift in Sri Lanka’s military posture, moving beyond traditional bilateral partnerships and signalling a growing alignment with a Western military bloc.

The CPSL views this engagement with NATO as a deeply unhealthy development that violates the principles of non-alignment which have guided Sri Lanka’s foreign policy for decades. Sri Lanka is neither in Europe nor in North America, nor is it located in the Atlantic Ocean. NATO’s remit has no relevance to Sri Lanka’s security needs.

NATO is an alliance for aggression, protecting imperialist interests. Historically, NATO has not carried out a single defensive operation; instead, it has launched unprovoked military interventions in Yugoslavia, Afghanistan, and Libya, causing immense human suffering. The United States-led NATO military bloc contributes to over 70% of global military spending.

The United States, NATO’s most powerful member, is at present engaged in an unprovoked war of aggression against Iran, while NATO countries continue to support Israel’s genocide against the Palestinian people and its aggression against Iran and Lebanon. The US has also been pressuring NATO members to increase defence spending to 5% of GDP, a sign of anticipated aggression.

The illegal US base at Diego Garcia, established through the ethnic cleansing of the Chagossian people, lies close to Sri Lanka and has been used for illegal abductions and attacks during Washington’s wars against Iraq and Iran.

Sri Lanka’s participation in discussions with such an alliance raises serious questions about the government’s strategic direction and its susceptibility to external pressure.

Sri Lanka’s foreign policy must remain non-aligned, independent, and rooted in national sovereignty. Engagement with NATO represents a dangerous deviation that threatens to compromise the country’s neutrality and expose it to geopolitical conflicts far beyond its shores.

The CPSL reiterates that Sri Lanka must not allow itself to be drawn into NATO’s global military agenda. The country’s security interests lie in peaceful cooperation within the Indian Ocean region, not in entanglement with an alliance responsible for destabilising multiple nations across the world. Sri Lanka must not become a pawn in global power struggles.

The CPSL calls upon:

1. The Government to immediately clarify the nature and scope of its discussions with NATO.

2. Parliament to demand full transparency regarding foreign military presence and agreements.

3. The People of Sri Lanka to remain vigilant against attempts to erode national sovereignty under the guise of “modernisation” or “cooperation”.

Sri Lanka must not abandon its proud tradition of non-alignment. The CPSL will continue to oppose any move that compromises the independence, sovereignty, non-alignment, and long-term security of our people and our nation.”