PUCSL permits CEB to shut down one unit of NCPP considering the coal shortage

23 December 2022 12:28 am Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 11 Bookmark

CHATURANGA PRADEEP SAMARAWICKRAMA Follow

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The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) has permitted the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) to shut down one of the three power plants at the Norochcholai Coal Power Plant (NCPP) yesterday.

PUCSL Chairman Janaka Rathnayake said the permission was given considering the coal shortage. However, no additional power cuts will be imposed in addition to the scheduled ones.

Meanwhile, a senior official from the Power and Energy Ministry confirmed that one NCPP plant was shut down for repairs and that the increase in scheduled power cuts will not be affected.

Due to the shutting down of the power plant, the national grid will lose nearly 300 megawatts of electricity, an official said.

He said it will cost Rs. 228 million per day to generate the 270 megawatts from the Yugadanavi Power Plant in Kerawalapitiya. It is a big loss for the Electricity Board.

Although it costs only Rs. 47 to generate a unit of electricity from the disabled generator, it costs Rs. 82 to generate a unit of electricity from the Yugadanavi Power Plant. (Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama)

Comments - 11

Gunadasa Friday, 23 December 2022 04:37 AM

Permission was given considering coal shortage - this means whether PUCSL gives permission or not, the power plant will be shut down anyway

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Kanchana the Retard. Friday, 23 December 2022 06:50 AM

NCCP engineers warned about this months ago, but the energy minister kanchana wasted time intimidating the senior staff at NCCP. We need to give IQ tests to MPs to prevent imbeciles in responsible positions.

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IQ 50 is enough for our minister Friday, 23 December 2022 06:38 PM

Often said IQ of sri lankan is on average 45, so anything above IQ 70 is unimaginable for country. Ministers should have at least IQ 50, anything above and too few people available.

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Eper Friday, 23 December 2022 07:02 AM

Excellent. You can now import coal at exuberant prices and produce electricity at 82/- n put the entire country to turmoil. This is Sri Lankan politics n do you expect the educated youth to remain here with these fraudsters.

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Sunil Friday, 23 December 2022 08:22 AM

Everyone was aware that this was going to happen, sooner rather than later. It will not be long before the other two plants also shut down. When the new year dawns, the entire country will be in darkness and that is just what it should be.

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Chris Friday, 23 December 2022 10:09 AM

The issue is not dollars of which the banks now has an excess. It is to do with government not able to purchase dollars from banks due to rupee shortage, which effectively means government has no money and the other option is to print money thereby allow inflation to go up. Time for a bit of sacrifice for about 3 months till government revenues pick up with new taxes coming in January. Choice is do we sacrifice a little and become stable soon or spend what we have and continue to suffer long term

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Central Bank at fault Friday, 23 December 2022 06:30 PM

Problem is the fixed dollar that is preventing rupee falling to a natural 700 rupee per USD exchange rate. Inflation at 70%, but rupee not going down more than 1%. That's definitely a smell of rat with the central bank claims, which because of their fixed rupee is causing the dollar crisis. I know so many people who are middle east who say they will even come back and leave their money in middle east account till 2025, when rupee should be 1000 to one USD. Better than any interest here.

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Cherath Friday, 23 December 2022 04:05 PM

Why don't you realise that COAL is a fossil fuel that will not exist in the not too distant future? It takes millions of years for its transformation. As scarcity grows so does its price. Coal burning is the first culprit of global warming and air pollution. Which is why almost all developed nations resort to other avenues of generating power.

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What solution you have for 24 hour all weather all season generation Friday, 23 December 2022 06:27 PM

Hello, what other sources of 24 hour reliable electricity generating sources do you know of that we can use here? Russia is assisting about nuclear technology, but in the coming 15 years, only new coal power plants that can generate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, regardless of weather or time of day can get us out of these dark days.

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Cherath Friday, 23 December 2022 04:15 PM

So if there's no importation of oil or coal, Sri Lanka will be in the dark, as hydro electricity supply is very feeble. This is one area the government could do with a direct investment to install nuclear energy. For that to happen, the government need to forward a legitimate plea through UN providing a 100% guarantee of non interference on any foreign assistance, meaning 'not taking cuts or commissions' from any donor.

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PUCSL needs a shot in the bottom Friday, 23 December 2022 06:25 PM

PUCSL is mentioned in parliament as the cause of the electricity crisis. The longer it's around to give it's needless permissions the worse we'll be. It's chairman is corrupt rich man who as Ranil mentioned in parliament too. Minister Kanchana hinted about no good government officials after PUCSL gave the half price electricity to religious places, so causing greater losses to the public.

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