Water in Samanalawewa sufficient for three days’ power generation

The water capacity in the Samanalawewa reservoir is sufficient for a maximum of two days of hydropower generation if made with the maximum capacity, an engineer attached to the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) said.

He said the power generation at the Samanalawewa has been reduced to 3.9 GWh by today, and yesterday they had generated 80 MW of electricity.

"The proposed project to increase the capacity of the electricity transmission system in the Southern Province is nearing completion within the next five days. After two days, the power generation of the reservoir will come to zero. If we do not go for emergency power purchases, there is a possibility of experiencing a maximum of a two-hour power cut during peak time to balance the required power supply for only three days," he said.

"It is clear that we will be able to complete the electricity transmission system in the Southern Province," the engineer said.

"The power generation at the Norochcholai Coal Power Plant will be restored in two days, and with the power generation there will be no need of any emergency power purchases," he added. (Chatruanga Pradeep Samarawickrama)