COLOMBO (NewsRadio); Minister of Power Kanchana Wijesekera has categorically rejected that 10-hour daily power cuts will be imposed in January.
Minister Wijesekera said the claims made by certain unions attached to the Ceylon Electricity Board that 10-hour power cuts will be imposed from January have no basis.
He made the clarification while speaking to media in Colombo today.
Yesterday, President of the Ceylon Electricity Board Engineers Association Nihal Weeraratne said 10-hour power cuts could be enforced in the country after the three generators of the Norochcholai Coal Power Plant cease to operate when coal stocks run short by the 31st of December.
Weeraratne said if all the three generators fail, power cuts of more than 10 hours will be enforced as the Norochcholai Power Plant fulfills 45 percent of the country’s electricity demand.
He said as water levels for hydro power plants have decreased to 75 percent, it is uncertain whether hydropower could reach its maximum capacity over the next few months.
He warned that the country could come to a standstill.
Meanwhile, Chairman of the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka Janaka Ratnayake also said if steps are not taken promptly to bring down coal shipments, lengthy power cuts will be imposed from January.
Chairman Janaka Ratnayake said although Sri Lanka requires 38 coal shipments for next year, only six have arrived thus far.
However, Minister of Power Kanchana Wijesekera has rejected such claims made by factions with vested interests.
Meanwhile, Power Minister Kanchana Wijesekera said power cuts will not be enforced on the 24th, 25th and 31st of December and the 1st of January.
On a separate note, Minister Wijesekera also said that electricity tariffs will be revised once again in January.
He said necessary details will be furnished to the Cabinet of Ministers on the 2nd of January.
