100 MW of electricity saved in three months

by Mohammed NAALIR

The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has saved nearly 100 MW of electricity during the past three months.

This was sequel to the request made by the CEB to cut down electricity consumption, Power and Energy Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka said.

The Power and Energy Ministry, with its affiliated institutions, launched a national drive named 'Save energy for tomorrow' to make people aware of using electricity efficiently, the Minister said.

The CEB, Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority (SLSEA) and Lanka Electricity Company (Pvt) Ltd hold the responsibility to create awareness among the public to save energy, the Minister said.

Minister Ranawaka was addressing a workshop organised to create awareness on energy saving at the CEB headquarters.

He said an awareness program must be launched targeting Government and private sector institutions at village and urban level. CEB engineers must extend their cooperation to these programs.

The demand for electricity is increasing as a result of new development projects, the Minister said. In 1994 hydro power was used 100 percent, now it has dropped to 14 percent.

We are depending on thermal power for the balance 86 percent, the Minister said. The Minister urged the people to reduce electricity consumption so that it could be saved for another day.