2h 45 minute power cut for four days

A two hour forty five minute power cut came into effect from yesterday  to be continued for four days due to  the breakdown in the Norochcholai Coal Power Plant (NCPP) on  Monday, Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) General Manager Vijitha  Herath said.   

He told Daily Mirror the night time power cuts will be imposed from 6.00 p.m. to 7.00 p.m; 7.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m; 8.00 p.m. to 9.00 p.m and 9.00 p.m. to 10.00 p.m. with the country divided into four zones until repairs to the power  plant was completed.   

The day time power cuts will be of 1 hour 45 minute durations in areas designated by the CEB.   

Meanwhile the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) spokesman Sulakshana Jayawardena said it would take at least four days to restore the power supply from the NCCP, which broke down yesterday and there may be power disruptions in some areas in the process of balancing demand and supply. He said the NCPP supplies some 40 per cent of the country’s electricity demand by supplying 900 megawatts to the national grid and it provides uninterrupted service even though the power generated through hydro-power plants have drastically reduced.   

“Breakdown at the NCPP takes several days to repair because of the severe heat it generates,” Mr. Jayawardena said.(Chaturanga Samarawickrama)