Remaining fuel reserves only sufficient for today; Power Cuts likely: CEB

COLOMBO (News 1st): The remaining stocks of Diesel and Furnace Oil for power generation are only sufficient for today (Jan. 26), the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) said.  The stocks of Diesel supplied to the Kelanitissa Power Plant for power generation will end today (26), while the Furnace Oil supplied to the Sapugaskanda Power Station and the Barge Mounted Power Plant at the Colombo Port is also sufficient only for today (26), Andrew Nawamani, the Spokesperson for the Ceylon Electricity Board told News 1st. According to Andrew Nawamani, the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) has been informed in this regard. Power Cuts are highly likely if the ordered stocks of Diesel and Furnace Oil are not delivered today, he noted. However, Chairman of the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL), Janaka Ratnayake has said that there is no need for Power Cuts, based on the statistics available at present. "With the supplied stocks of fuel, an uninterrupted supply of electricity could be ensured for the next few days and the Public Utilities Commission will convene again tomorrow (Jan. 27), to discuss the generation of power with the remaining fuel reserves," Ratnayake noted. Meanwhile, Senior Electrical Engineer Dr. Rohantha Abeysekera will assume duties on Wednesday (Jan. 26) as the new Acting General Manager at the Ceylon Electricity Board.