Good News to Electricity Consumers Power Supply Back to Normal by Tomorrow Morning

The power supply will be brought back to normal by tomorrow morning with the recommencement of operations at the Norochcholai Coal Power Plant, Energy Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said.

Norochcholai power plant failure  was not due to a breakdown but caused by an automatic mechanism introduced for its protection, he said.

He made these observations at a press conference at the Lakvijaya Coal Power Plant in Norochcholai to explain the current position in relation to the power plant, which automatically halted its power generation with the breakdown in the Biyagama Receiving Station.

Siyambalapitiya said under normal circumstances when a coal power plant stalls, it takes nearly three days to cool down and start operating.

He added that since the Norochcholai Power Plant generates 900 MW it has a massive impact on the electricity supply.

“Although all the other additional plants commenced operating, there would still be a shortfall of 400 to 500 MW to cater to the demand,” minister Siyambalapitiya said. “Hence the need for power cuts until tomorrow”.

The minister expressed his regrets over the inconvenience the consumers have to face due to this power failure.

“If the power consumers reduce consumption by 15 percent, the CEB could provide electricity without interruption. I request the public to use power with a sense of responsibility,” he said.

Siyambalapitiya said the Cabinet Sub Committee met last evening. Three Committees had been appointed, one by the Prime Minister, another by the CEB and one by himself.

“Those Committees are instructed to submit their first report within one week with short term solutions,” the minister said. “The Committees are instructed to submit their complete report and long term solutions within three months.”

Secretary to the Power and Renewable Energy Ministry Dr. B. M. S. Batagoda and Ceylon Electricity Board General Manager C C Wickramasekara also spoke at the press conference.