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| Sunday, 31 October 2004 |
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Purchasing power from IPPs : Neither economical nor sustainable Purchasing power from Independent Power producers (IPPs) is neither economical nor sustainable and delaying the implementation of the two vital power projects can destabilise the whole economy as electricity is the life blood of any country. Therefore our request to all concerned is to go ahead as planned and expedite the implementation of both Upper Kotmale and Norochcholai Power plants said President CEB Engineers Union Ananda Piyatilake. If the projects get the green light now the CEB can start the recovery process in five years as it takes time for construction as well. In 1999 CEB had a surplus of Rs 4bln, in funds according to 2003 figures the CEB was over Rs 21 billion in debt. All this money was spent to purchase electricity from Independent Power Producers(IPPs) at a higher rate and subsidise it to the consumer. "This is not only a waste of money but an environmental hazard as well," he said. The government started purchasing electricity from IPPs as an immediate solution to the power crisis, but neither is it economical nor sustainable. The country burns 4500 metric tons of diesel daily and out of this 1500 metric tons are used by the CEB to generate electricity. For every ton of diesel burnt around .3 percent of sulphar is released to the air, thus polluting it. At present 60 percent of the country's electricity requirement is generated through diesel burning generators while the country's electricity requirement is increasing at a rate of 8 percent per annum. The CEB Engineers as far back as 1991 told the authorities that due to the increasing demand the country will need a Coal power Station up and running by 1999. Initially a site was selected in Trincomalee then it was shifted to Mawella in Matara and finally to Norochcholai. A huge amount of money was spent on pre feasibility, feasibility and technical studies and then protests started. He said that when it is thermal electricity we have to import the fuel, therefore we have to select the least cost generating method as this will help to sell the electricity cheap. But unfortunately politicians assured that the power station will not be built and sacrificed the future of the nation for a few votes, he said. Again in 1994 the Engineers sounded alarming bells and said the country will need the Upper Kotmale hydro power station by 2001 and construction was to begin on Upper Kotmale in 1995. The site was selected afetr conducting many studies. Hydro power is the cheapest renewable source of energy unfortunately we don't have many more sites to build hydro power stations. Originally it was planned to generate 248 mega watts and 2700 families were to be resettled but due to protests the project has been scaled down and as of now it will only generate 150 mega watts. For example even two thirds of Nayagara Falls is tapped upstream generating 4000 mega watts of electricity which is shared by Canada and USA and it is one of the eight wonders of the world. Even today 35 percent of the population are without electricity and for example there are so many deaths due to using of bottle lamps while the country is spending large amounts of money to purchase electricity from IPPs. Therefore we will pressure all concerned and we will not hesitate even to take trade union action to get the green light for the projects as soon as possible as this is a national cause, said Piyatilake. |
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