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| Sunday, 12 October 2003 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Calling for coal-fired power Our studies indicate that the proposed Upper-Kotmale Hydro Power Generating Project - apart from (a) any adverse environmental affects and (b) objections by Minister Arumugam Thondaman - is not financially viable and technically feasible. If implemented, it will not deliver the expected results for two reasons - viz. (i). The proposal will not have a reservoir able to store adequate water to ensure an uninterrupted generation of power and (ii). During the dry season there won't be sufficient flow of water. In short either at a stretch or intermittently we will not have continuous power. Half the year it will work below capacity thus escalating the cost per unit of power so generated. It is common knowledge that this venture will adversely disturb the environment and the scenic beauty of the area completely as several lovely waterfalls are to be tapped and lost for good - not so much of a concern that a few Estate Labour Families may be displaced. Importantly when some learned Engineers had suggested that this venture will not be financially viable or technically feasible, it is the duty of the Authorities concerned to pay heed to these critics. Just because some Engineers or top-notch in the CEB are insisting on the Project for obvious reasons - for their own material gain, the Minister in charge will have to be more pragmatic, more practical and realistic to the outcome of the total issue. I refer to the numerous articles that appeared in the local print media and other forums by people with authority and expertise on the subject. Although the project, at the end of the day may cost well over Rs. 30 billion, it is not expected to generate more than 250 million units of power. It should be reminded that we are already paying in the region of Rs. 10/- per unit of power we consume domestically which is the highest in the world. With massive foreign-aid-capital pumped into doubtful projects and more and more Diesel Power Generating Plants in the offing, the costs are like to rise further in 2004/2005 onwards. Yes, the UNF Government will not leave room for a power crisis of the like that we faced during the latter part of the PA regime - but the big question is at what cost ? It is the studied view of the Authorities, that 'Coal-fired Power Generation' is the cheapest source of power apart from hydro. Hydro, we cannot depend on fully due to climatic changes and disturbances caused to Mother nature by man. But studies show that there are sufficient coal deposits available in the world - specially South Africa, China and the Russian sector which is predicted to last for thousands of years. A unit of electrical power can be generated by 'Coal-fired Power' at a cost of below Rs. 4/-. Yes, we had been, for some years talking of 'Coal-fired Power' - a plant to be established first at Trinco, then at Norochholai, then at Hambantota and back at Trinco. All these rhetoric had been limited to costly words. Think of the colossal sums of money we had wasted on preparations, pre-feasibility studies, feasibility studies, foreign expert advice and post-feasibility retrogression etc. concerning above non-starters over the years since the latter part of JRJ regime. Surely we would have put up ten 'Coal-fired Power Generating Plants' from this money. And whose money has the so-called responsible and public-accountable governments in our country had so wasted in the past. The money of the tax-payer, the poor peasant and yours and mine - certainly not from the dowries corrupt politicians of all camps have amassed through various questionable means. Why should the people be dumb ? Why can't they speak for their due rights ? Can we allow the politicians to play 'pandu' with public funds ? How long are we going to tolerate this political power play and dilly-dallying ? Are we going to be proved to the 'World' as a set of bloody Asses or Fools ? Let us be honest, we are - are'nt we ? Studies by several Engineers have found out that Mawella/Kudawella area down South is the ideal place to site a 'Coal-fired Power Project'. The dumb silence of our 'planners' in regard to the Mawella site and their strong efforts to promote unsuitable sites is beyond reasoning. Is it not obvious that not only politicians but bureaucrats and officials as they are plugging the Arab-Oil lobby line and opposing 'coal-fired power'. Of course the Norochcholai project was first delayed by the previous regime and later abandoned by the present regime not so much due to facts and reason - but just because the Catholic Church (the Bishop of Chilaw) strongly objected for it. But really speaking it would still not have been a viable Project for the under-mentioned reasons:- i. Norochcholai is situated in the LTTE demarcated Eelam Map area and hence it would have been vulnerable. ii. Norochcholai is situated in the midst of the tropical cyclonic area across Sri Lanka and towards the Southern tip of India resulting in thunder storms, heavy cyclonic winds etc. iii. If this plant was set up in Norochcholai, due to the shallow waters a breakwater or a side bund need to be constructed for a distance of at least 4 to 5 kms., in the sea. This exercise would have entailed a heavy - unnecessary expenditure. iv. Even then, the coal has to be loaded to tippers or trucks from the Ship and transported this distance which would have added to the cost and also the process will be heavily interrupted due to climatic conditions. It has been proposed and planned to set up an International Harbour as well as an International Airport in Hambantota mainly to develop Southern Sri Lanka which had been ignored and neglected by government after government. The projected development of the South required uninterrupted power supply - well over 300 mega-watts. A 'coal-fired power generation plant at Mawella/Kudawella would have been the most feasible and viable - not only to generate the future power requirements of a developed South, but also to add to the main grid as well. The climatic condition in this area is moderate the year round and ships carrying coal can be berthed right near the shore as the water here is very deep to safely accommodate 65,000dwt, Coal-Carriers. The only necessity would have been a break-water of just 1/4th of a Km. We, on behalf of the citizens of Sri Lanka, specially the neglected poor Sinhala peasantry of the South strongly urge upon the government and most emphatically demand of the Minister of Power & Energy to immediately appoint an urgent "Task-Force" comprising some patriotic, un-biased, high-calibre Civil and Electrical Engineers with no vested interests to all to immediately look into the now almost given-up Mawella/Kudawella 'Coal-fired Power Generation Project' with firm instructions to report their findings within three (03) months and save the country from catastrophe. Ranjit C. Dissanayake, Deputy President, Eksath Sinhale Party |
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