LNP – Power cuts till Friday

Team of engineers race against time to repair broken Norochcholai Power plant

– Power cut timings may reduce once repairs progress

– Urgent meetings since Sunday amongst government, experts and engineers to prevent further islandwide blackouts

– Dead body of monkey found at Panadura Power Station

Short power cuts are expected to be imposed in several districts of the island at least till Friday, February 14, till the Norochcholai Power plant is repaired and connected back to the main grid, sources from the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) told the Daily Mirror last night.

Sources said that efforts were ongoing to repair the coal power plant as soon as possible, but it was likely that the power cuts would remain throughout the week.

The CEB has already issued one-hour and 30-minute power cuts in several districts of the island today, but as the repairs progress at the Norochcholai Power plant, these timings will reduce. However, at least five days are required to get the plant connected back to the grid, the CEB sources said.

Investigations are ongoing into the cause of the nationwide blackout which occurred on Sunday, with the Power and Energy Ministry calling for a report as soon as possible.

Minister of Power and Energy Kumara Jayakody blamed the blackout on a monkey who he said had clashed with a transmission line at the Panadura Power Station and this claim was further strengthened when the body of a monkey was found near the site last morning.

Engineers have however said that the National Grid needed an urgent update and since Sunday’s blackout, urgent meetings have commenced in the government and the CEB, to discuss short-term and long-term solutions.

Experts have warned that if urgent steps are not taken to upgrade the entire system with more thermal plants and hydropower plants and a strong grid, islandwide power cuts would be a frequent occurrence, plunging the nation into darkness.