SLAMERP requests uninterrupted power and fuel for manufacturing and export sector

• Says heavy machinery used in rubber sector cannot be run by using generators
• Says dollar earning export sector should be exempted from ongoing power cuts
• Points out export sector cannot progress without stable energy and power supply
• Fears disruptions to production process will translate into losing of confidence of int’l buyers for sourcing from SL

Sri Lanka Association of Manufacturers and Exporters of Rubber Products (SLAMERP) yesterday requested the government to provide continuous power for export industry factories as production is getting interrupted due to the ongoing power cuts.

“It is affecting both BOI and none BOI sector and members are reporting production and supply chain disruptions,” SLAMERP said in a statement. 
The rubber sector is one of the industries, which uses machinery that needs high capacity, uninterrupted electricity to run the production lines. Generators are not a practical way of running these machines, as once disconnected, to re-start such machinery, factories need to shut down production. 

“This is affecting our overall production cycle and the export order process. SLAMERP views that the export sector has to be exempted and the government must find the mechanism and instruct the CEB to provide continuous electricity for the sector, which brings in the vital dollars. 

We also find that companies need fuel such as diesel and kerosene, along with furnace oil to run boilers and other machinery and the recurring fuel shortages are creating factory closures and production line stoppages for export processing. 

We also find the fuel shortages affecting the general transportation requirements of both export containers and for people to attend to day-to-day operations of factories  as public  transportation  is now getting  affected  due to continuous  fuel shortages,” the SLMERP statement noted.

“In our view, the country and the export sector cannot progress without stable energy and power supplies to key industries and services. We call upon the government and authorities to immediately come up with a sustainable solution in order to support the export sector as the industry is worried that the continuation of disruptions will translate into losing of confidence of international buyers sourcing from Sri Lanka, if we are unable to produce on time and ship out cargo from Sri Lanka,” the statement added.