Inadequate diesel supply may lead to extended powercuts: CEB

If there is no additional stock of diesel is supplied to maintain the system once the Norochcholai power plant which will be shutdown at 12:00 midnight today, power cut will have to be extended to around four hours, CEB Engineering Association Secretary Eranga Kudahewa said.

Operations of the Norochcholai coal power plant will be shut down for maintenance for 70 days. 

The Norochcholai power plant contributes 270MW to the national grid. Due to the shortage of diesel in the country and the drop in rainfall, power generation has been severely hampered. 

The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) today stated that although there will be no change in the power cuts tomorrow and Sunday, it may have to be extended from next week onwards.

The decision on power cut schedule is due to be announced tomorrow.

PUCSL said the decision to extend power cut would be based on the volume of fuel supplied. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama)