Expert warns of potential damage to Norochcholai power plant over substandard coal

Energy expert Dr. Vidhura Ralapanawe has raised concerns about the use of low-quality imported coal at the Lakvijaya Coal Power Plant in Norochcholai. He warned that this could seriously harm the plant's power-generating turbines. Dr. Ralapanawe mentioned that while the plant has used previously imported coal until now, starting next month, it will depend solely on the new coal shipments. He indicated that this change could put the machinery at risk. “Currently, South African coal is only utilized for a short time, between 10 to 16 hours, because there are still supplies from the earlier supplier at the Norochcholai plant. However, there is a growing worry among the staff that from March 1, operations will rely entirely on the newly imported coal once the current stock runs out,” he stated. He emphasized that the main issue is the potential for damage to vital machinery if the substandard coal is used non-stop for 24 hours. He warned that if two or three generating units at Norochcholai fail during the dry season, it could have serious consequences for Sri Lanka's power grid. “I call on authorities to work with engineers and take swift action. If this is not managed properly, it could threaten the national power system and lead to a significant increase in electricity prices,” he added.