Country’s power consumption drops due to Covid 19 pandemic: Minister

By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana

The daily usage of electricity in Sri Lanka has been reduced to 40 GW hours currently from 45GW hours as a result of COVID 19 pandemic, Minister of Power and energy Dallas Allahapperuma told Parliament yesterday.
Responding to an oral question raised by Government MP Shantha Bandara with the current situation of the power sector, the Minister said 22 per cent of the daily requirement of power was generated by hydro power, 26 per cent thermal, 41 per cent coal power and 9 per cent from alternate sources. Elaborating on Government’s future development plans in the power sector he said the government would go ahead with the setting up of two LNG plants in Kerawalapitiya, introducing floating solar panels, setting up of a wind power park in Mannar, and a solar power park in Siyambalanduwa. Responding to a question raised by SJB MP Dr Harshsa de Silva whether the government was going to go ahead with the second LNG plant without the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL), the Minister said it would not be implemented without PUCSL  clearance.