General

Energy experts are calling for the activation of the Kelanitissa Combined Cycle Power Plant to make up for the electricity shortfall faced by Sri Lanka's national power grid, which has been impacted by poor-quality coal imports. Reports indicate that the current ability to generate electricity for the national grid has significantly decreased because the coal imported does not meet the necessary standards. Dr. Vidhura Ralapanawe, an energy expert, shared that when all three coal power plants function at full capacity, they can produce 810 megawatts of electricity. However, due to the use of substandard coal, the generation capacity has dropped to around 715 megawatts. This means the country is losing about 95 megawatts of electricity every day. Dr. Ralapanawe pointed out that to cover this gap, electricity must be produced using costly petroleum fuels. Reports state that coal was utilized for power generation on January 20 and 22. Experts also mentioned that if the Kelanitissa Combined Cycle Power Plant operates using naphtha, it could help counteract the losses in electricity generation for the national grid. However, they caution that, due to issues with the quality of coal from a disputed coal tender, Sri Lanka might not be able to bring in the necessary coal before April this year. If this problem continues, the nation could face a serious energy crisis. Furthermore, experts stress that coal must be procured before the monsoon season starts, as rough seas from April to September will hinder coal unloading. Sri Lanka needs at least 60,000 metric tons of coal for electricity generation, which requires at least 38 ships for transport. So far, only about three ships have arrived.