CEB depending on Diesel Plants, as Norochcholai taken off

COLOMBO (News 1st); One section of the Norochcholai Power Plant, which produces 600 Megawatts of electricity, has been disconnected for repairs.

As a result, the Ceylon Electricity Board is depending more on power plants that run on diesel.

In a tweet, minister Kanchana Wijesekara said the government has paid 34 million US dollars for a shipment of furnace oil.

He said the fuel stock would be used to generate power and run industries.

The minister said power cuts will be limited to two and a half hours until the Norochcholai Power Plant is reactive.

Concerns have also arisen on whether the Norochcholai Power Plant has enough coal to generate electricity for 75 days.

The Public Utilities Commission said orders have not been placed for coal shipments required from October until April next year.

The power plant needs 2.2 million MT of coal that will cost 610 million US dollars.

The Public Utilities Commission said power supply will be disrupted if the government can't find enough dollars to make the payment.