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| Sunday, 12 May 2002 |
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Energy
Security Measures to prevent any future power crisis
by CHAMIKARA WEERASINGHE The government has taken a policy decision to conserve water in hydro reservoirs to ensure uninterrupted power supply and prevent any future crisis situation, and will set up Energy Security Measures for this purpose. Power and Energy Minister, Karu Jayasuriya said that steps have been taken to set up more thermal power plants to generate power so that water can be stocked up in hydro reservoirs for future use, and in times of crisis. He was speaking at a press conference at his ministry on Thursday. He said that the present power cuts in the country will be lifted from May 15, with a promise that he will never let the country go into darkness again, unless there was sabotage. He said, "It is expected that there'll be another drought in September next year, and also in 2004 and 2006 as predicted by meteorology experts. But I would like to state here with responsibility that we will not allow the country into 'blackouts' under any circumstances." "Presently we are operating with an excess of 200 MW which is the result of commitment of the government and officials of the CEB, who work as a team to solve the existing crisis situation in power generation," he said. "Further new power plants additions have been planned from July this year and onwards so as to ensure that this type of crisis will not rise again. Moves are under way to add another 340 MW to the present operational grid of 1600 MW by the end of this year," the minister explained. "We have also repaired Gas Turbine, GT 7 which was merely an iron stack when we took over the government with the assistance of its manufacturing country," he said, "the machine, which was valued at Rs. 3,000 million and was responsible for producing 10 per cent of the national grid, was on the verge of being replaced when we took up governance. We could save the machine and about Rs. 7,000 million of public money which otherwise could have resulted from a replacement," "We are considering setting up of alternative power plants to add to the national grid. 75 per cent of the Plans are readily available to set up wind, solar and 'denro' thermal plants," he added. " On the contrary, a group from the Power and Energy Ministry had left for Washington, to call for private sector participation in power generation. They are expected to bring aids worth of Rs. 7 billion in this respect," Commenting on the future plans of the government placed upon his ministry , the minister said , that action will be stepped up in the future to provide electricity to rural areas soon. "My task is to ensure that electricity is no longer a luxury item," he remarked. |
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