Power cuts for another two weeks at least

The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) said yesterday the two-and-half-hour daytime power cuts imposed on a staggered basis would be continued for another two weeks because the Norochcholai Lakvijaya Coal Power Plant (LCPP) had developed another technical defect.

The duration of the daytime power cuts would have to be increased if there is no rain in the catchment areas but assured there will be no power cuts during the night at least until the GCE A/L examination ends

CEB Deputy Chairman Anura Wijepala said the LCCP was expected to resume power generation on Friday after repairs to the main transmission lines, but during a routine checkup, engineers had found another defect in the machines and this had compelled the authorities to shut down the power plant for another two weeks at least.

“It is with utmost regret that we announce the discovery of defective bearings in the machinery and this has resulted in improper configurations leading to a further shutdown,” he said.

Mr. Wijepala told a news conference the machinery at the LCPP was not up to the international standards though it might be up to the Chinese standards.

“Yes, there are defects in the machinery. We have informed China Mechanical Engineering Corporation (CMEC) which constructed the LCPP. They too agree. We told them to pay more attention to the machinery that will be installed for the second phase of the LCPP with provisions to supply 300 more megawatts to the national grid,” Mr. Wijepala said.

He warned that the duration of the daytime power cuts would have to be increased if there was no rain in the catchment areas but assured there would be no power cuts during the night at least until the GCE A/L examination was concluded. “We will have to assess the situation after August 30 and reschedule the power cuts unless there was a marked improvement in the water levels in reservoirs. The situation right now is extremely precarious,” he said.

He expressed his gratitude to engineers, the executive staff and other employees who had not resorted to trade union action, Mr. Wijepala said the CEB was now managed with a work force of a little more than 5,000.