Power crisis envisaged: Minister

The Power crisis could aggravate by March as a result of the current use of hydropower at its maximum level, it is learnt.

At a discussion held between the Power and Energy Minister Mahinda Amaraweera and the officials of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), it has been revealed that hydropower was being used at the most since diesel power plants had not been operative.

The Minister said that the maximum use of water in reservoirs to produce hydropower could result in draining of reservoirs and no rainfall could be expected in the near future.

He pointed out that in order to avoid this situation, Emergency Power Purchasing (EPP) would have to be implemented again and for this, a suitable procedure should be in place.

He also said that the CEB, Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) and Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority should work in cooperation in order to find solutions to these issues.

The Minister has instructed these institutions to work collectively instead of criticizing each other. (Dayaseeli Liyanage)