Power supply from Norochcholai to national grid resumes

COLOMBO (News 1st): One power generation unit at the Norochcholai power plant was reconnected to the national grid on Friday after an islandwide blackout this week, officials said.

Three power generators at the plant that each generate 300 megawatts of power had malfunctioned after a technical glitch in the power transmission system at the Kerawalapitiya plant.

"It is difficult to reconnect the generators after it has been inactive for a long time," Indrasiri Gallage, the manager of the Norochcholai power plant told reporters on Friday.

He explained that water must be fed into the boiler of the plant in order to reactivate the generator.

"We hope to reactivate the second generator and the third generator by Monday," Gallage said.

Former power minister Mahinda Amaraweera said, a national policy is required to resolve the problems pertaining to the power and energy sector.

"If our national plan is implemented, we will be able to reduce electricity bills by 2023," he noted.