'If fuel is provided, no power cuts today & tomorrow': Minister

COLOMBO (News 1st): The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation has agreed to provide the required fuel stocks for power generation on Saturday (Jan. 15), Minister of Energy Gamini Lokuge said. "If fuel stocks are provided, there will be no power cuts on Saturday (15) and Sunday (16)", the Minister noted. Whilst pointing out that the country is currently facing a severe dollar crisis, the Minister noted that the authorities are attempting to ensure an uninterrupted supply of power in order to avoid any inconveniences to the public. "However, I instructed the Ceylon Electricity Board to release the schedule of power cuts to the media," Minister Lokuge said. According to Minister Lokuge, the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation has been requested to provide 15,000 tonnes of Fuel. "Close to 1500 tonnes of fuel are required to meet the daily requirement of power generation in the country, meaning 15,000 tonnes would suffice for 10-days," he added. Minister of Energy Gamini Lokuge was hopeful that by the 22nd of this month, the failed generators at the Norochcholai Coal Power Plant could be reactivated, which would add another 300 MW of power to the National Grid.