Coal power here to stay, who says otherwise: CEBEU

Despite earlier Govt statements to the contrary, coal is set to play a major role in the Ceylon Electricity Board’s ( CEB) Long Term Generation Expansion Plan ( LTGEP) 20182037, the Sunday Times learns.

The CEB’s LTGEP) 2018- 2037 was submitted to the country’s power sector regulator, the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka ( PUCSL) on Friday, for approval.

The LTGEP envisages a “mixed energy system” to power the country for the next two decades, and projects the country’s Installed Power Capacity ( IPC) to reach 11,212 Megawatts (MW) by 2037. IPC is the maximum electric output that power plants can produce.

Renewable Energy ( RE) will account for the lion’s share of the energy mix. According to the plan, Non Conve n t i o n a l Renewable Energy (NCRE) sources such as solar and wind power, will account for 31% or, 3,431 MW of the country’s IPC. When coupled with 15% of major hydropower or, 1,629 MW, and 5% pumped hydropower or, 600 MW in the plan, 50% of the IPC will be from RE.

Coal, however, will still be a major source of energy. The plan details that 32% or, 3,600 MW of IPC will be from coal, by 2037.

The balance IPC will be from Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) at 13% or, 1,500 MW, and oil at 4% or, 462 MW.

CEB Engineer’s Union ( CEBEU) President, Athula Wanniarachchi told the Sunday Times that, the CEB’s future vision for coal power plants is for “clean coal plants” utilising Japanese technology. He said, Engineers this week, briefed President Maithripala Sirisena with a presentation regarding the matter. “The President clearly told us that he has not instructed anyone to disregard coal as a fuel option, in preparation of the LTGEP,” Mr Wanniarachchi claimed.

Cabinet Spokesman Minister Rajitha Senaratne, however, told journalists in September last year, the Govt had decided not to construct any more coal power plants in the country, as they harmed the environment. It was over environmental concerns that the Govt decided to scrap the Indian-funded coal power plant in Sampur, in favor of an LNG plant.

According to the CEBEU President, there was general consensus that the Lakvijaya coal power plant in Norochcholai, built with Chinese technology, has its environmental issues. "Pollution caused by fly ash and coal dust is one such problem. Measures are being taken to remedy these issues," he added. "Japanese clean coal power plants, by contrast, avoided these issues," he argued, pointing out that coal storage and even coal transportation was fully covered at these plants.

"If the so- called clean coal power plants are to be built," he said "they would most likely come up in Hambantota or, Trincomalee or, at both locations. We can also add a further 300 to 600 MW of clean coal to Norochcholai if needed.”

Power & Renewable Energy Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya too acknowledged that the new LTGEP will be based on a mixed system. He, however, said authorities had been mindful about the environment and the commitments Sri Lanka entered into at the Paris Climate Conference ( COP21), when drafting the LTGEP.