CEB should enhance efficiency without burdening industries - CNCI
chief
The Ceylon Elctricity Board (CEB) must reduce its transmission loss
and enhance its efficiency without burdening the industries with a huge
tariff structure, said Chairman, Ceylon National Chamber of Industries (CNCI),
A. K. Ratnarajah.
He was speaking at a ceremony to launch the CNCI Industrial
Excellence Awards 2008 at the Hilton Colombo on Tuesday.
Ratnarajah said the CEB should revise electricity tariffs at a
competitive rate so that industries could survive.
The proposed tariff structure will have an adverse impact on
industries which will have to pay an additional Rs. 9 billion a year.
The CEB proposed a 40 per cent tariff revision following a decision
by the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) to stop subsidising fuel. The
CEB has to buy fuel at the world market price which has been
skyrocketing since the beginning of the year.
The CEB has been accused of inefficiency and corruption which has
resulted in the institution incurring a massive transmission loss while
yet 25 per cent of the population do not have electricity.
The Chairman said that small and medium scale industries cannot bear
the burden of massive tariff rates until the coal power plant in
Norochcholai is commissioned in 2012.
The chambers held a discussion with the Treasury officials last week
on the proposed electricity tariff hike and its impact on industries.
Following appeals President Mahinda Rajapaksa directed the CEB not to
revise rates for consumers using less than 90 units. The CNCI awards
ceremony is held annually to recognise and reward those who have
excelled in industrial entrepreneurship in the manufacturing and service
sectors.
The seventh CNCI Industrial Excellence Awards will be held on July 16
at the Hilton Colombo.
The Chamber has extended the competition to SAARC regional countries
to reward entrepreneurs who have a 50 per cent or more share holding.
This year the Chamber has selected the Moneragala and Badulla districts
to reward industries. - LF
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