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DateLine Sunday, 6 July 2008

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300MW open cycle power plant to be commissioned by Sept.

The Open Cycle Plant of the 300MW Combined Cycle Power Plant at Kerawalapitiya will be commissioned by the end of September, according to an official of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB).

He said the commissioning tests of the power plant have already commenced and the plant will be fully commissioned by the end of next year though the stipulated time was March 2010.

Sources said the power crisis in the country will ease to a certain extent with the commissioning of the Kerawalapitiya power plant.

The power project which was due to be launched early in the year was delayed due to technical and procedural problems.

The power plant which comprises two parts, namely the open and the combine cycle plants will be operated by Lakdanavi (Pvt) Ltd. of Lanka Transformers Ltd., a subsidiary of the CEB. The CEB will purchase power from the private operator.

The agreement to purchase power was signed between the CEB and the company early last year. The Open Cycle Plant will initially generate 200MW to the national grid.

The company uses sulphur furnace oil (heavy diesel) recommended by the Central Environment Authority (CEA). A request to use normal furnace oil which is economical has not yet been approved by the CEA.

Nuclear power is the cheapest source of energy though controversies exist around the use of it in the world. Coal power would be the next best and cheapest option which the country should consider without delay.

The Norochcholai coal power plant is scheduled to be commissioned by 2011.

The contribution by hydro power plants to the national energy requirement cannot be undermined.

The government should encourage more private hydro power operators to set up projects”, the sources said.

The annual energy requirement has increased with the growth in population and despite rural electrification programs many villages yet do not have electricity.

Alternative energy sources such as bio-fuel, dendro, wind and solar power have been recommended but there is no national plan to develop the sectors.

The CEB has come under growing criticism for incurring massive losses due to corruption, mismanagement and inefficiency.

The CEB’s daily loss is staggering and the board revised electricity tariffs recently in keeping with the rising fuel prices. Adding to the woes of the country’s power crisis several Trade Unions representing the public sector have decided to launch an islandwide strike on July 10 demanding a pay hike of Rs. 5,000 per employee.

The Unions are determined to go ahead with the strike despite a pledge by President Mahinda Rajapaksa to grant an all-round allowance of Rs. 1,000.

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