• Power usage increased by 150 MW this week  
• CEB says load shedding possible at any time  
• Several areas experienced power outages yesterday  

By Chaturanga Samarawickrama  

Despite the assurance given by the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) that there would be no power cuts until further notice, several Power Stations stopped their operations due to malfunctions and running out of required fuel stock, causing power outages in several areas.  

PUCSL Chairman Janaka Rathnayake said the CEB had requested them permission to have scheduled power cuts after 1.30 p.m. yesterday, but the PUCSL refused the request.   
The bulk electricity suppliers were asked to use their standby generators to prevent possible power cuts, considering the upcoming Advanced Level (A/L) examination next week.  

Meanwhile, Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) Additional General Manager and media spokesman Andrew Navamani said power usage has increased by 150 MWs this week when compared to the last week and said a load shedding could happen at any time if the demand could not be met.  

“The power usage was 2600 MWs last week. It is 2750 this week,” he said.  
One of the generators at the Norochcholai Coal Power Plant malfunctioned again yesterday due to pressure leakage from the pressure regulator.  

Therefore, 270 MW of power generation added to the national grid has been stopped.   “130 megawatts of the Sojitz Kelanitissa Power Station were forced to shut down for combustion inspection. Mr. Navamani stated that 60 megawatts of the Barge-Mounted Power Plant (BMPP) at Colombo Port have been halted since January 31 due to insufficient fuel, and 48 megawatts of the Sapugaskanda-A Power Station will also be restricted for night peak due to insufficient fuel.  

If so, plant B of the Sapugaskanda Power Station will stop in a short period of time, and 63 MW will be lost to the national grid.  

However, with the failure of several power generators, power failures had been experienced from several areas in the country including Gampaha District.    

• One of the generators at the Norochcholai Coal Power Plant malfunctioned again yesterday due to pressure leakage from the pressure regulator