14 September 2022 09:40 am Views - 357
A Fundamental Rights petition filed in the Supreme Court has hampered the procurement of coal for the Lakvijaya Coal Power Plant (LCPP) in Norochcholai, Cabinet Spokesman and Plantation Industries Minister Dr. Ramesh Pathirana said yesterday.
Admitting that all three coal power plants that generate 900 MWs and connect to the national grid will have to be shut down if ample stocks of coal are not imported by October 15th, Minister Pathirana told the weekly post cabinet news briefing.
He said the government would try its best to expedite the legal process on the advice of the Attorney General. The power and energy experts, trade unions in the power sector and employees of the LCPP have sounded alarm bells on the possibility of the country plunging to 7 hour power outages if the government failed to import coal by September 15th as stocks are sufficient only up to mid-October. The FR petition has been filed challenging the alleged misappropriations in the procurement procedure of coal for the LCPP.
Responding to a journalist at the news briefing, Minister Dr. Pathirana said the government would get the opportunity to procure and import coal before October 15 if the legal process of the FR petititon could be finalized as early as possible preventing a major power catastrophe.