Power generation at risk: Hydroelectricity plummets to critical level

By Kelum Bandara

Power generation will be in a crisis unless it rains sufficiently by the beginning of October, an official said.

Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) Chairman Rohan Seneviratne told Daily Mirror that the hydroelectricity generation capacity dropped to 15 per cent of the national requirement since the water level of the reservoirs had dropped drastically due to the current dry spell.

The CEB depends on thermal power for 65 per cent of the requirement, and the generation cost has shot up from Rs.800 million to Rs.1,200 million as a result.

“During the corresponding period of last year, we received enough rainfall. The reservoirs were full. At times, we depended on hydropower for 70 per cent of the requirement. Today, it has come down to 15 per cent,” he said.
The CEB has started purchasing power from the private sector.