power crisis - part 2

this is related to a post i made last month about the sri lankan power crisis

so the coal power plant will be built... thats good news... 300MW must be added to the grid every year... well 8% was the growth rate for 2005... which amounts to 200MW (according to the CEB annual report 2005)...

so whats the plan for next year?
the kerawalapitiya power plant (operated by lanka transformers ltd) will be complete only by mid next year...
lanka transformers and aitken spence have been given extensions totaling to 300 MW... and thats off diesel...
diesel power plants have a specific fuel consumption of 210-240g/kWh...
that is... they consume about 210-240g of HFO (furnace oil) for every unit of electricity they produce... that is about 3.5 - 4 units per liter of HFO

there will be power cuts but insufficient rainfall is not the whole reason... its just the scape goat for delaying other power projects... the main reason is that the three major power projects were delayed... and ceb has a diesel fetish! they seem to get turned on or something whenever they smell diesel... hehe

COLOMBO: Ceylon Electricity Board was implementing three major power generation projects in Norochcholai, Upper Kotmale and Kerawalapitiya to avert any crisis situation, said Power and Energy Minister W. D. J. Senevirathne, addressing media at Government Information Department, yesterday.

Minister Senevirathne said that the funds would be available to the Chinese construction company in the next week or two and the construction works of Norochcholai coal fired power plant could be started soon.

Refuting the allegations of certain Trade Unions that the construction of the Coal Power plant was nothing but limited to the foundation stone, the Minister stressed that the construction was functioning smoothly.

“The major hurdle was the acquisition of the land for construction of the power plant. Now we have the free hold of the land as 72 displaced families had been resettled elsewhere in new houses.”

He further said that the road network is also being developed in the area. However the Minister admitted that there was some delay in receiving funds from the Chinese Government. The Minister said that the Upper Kotmale Hydro Power Project and the Kerawalapitiya Multifuel operated Combined Cycle Power Plant were also progressing satisfactorily.

The Minister cautioned customers of the rising fuel prices in the world market that would adversely affect the power generation using diesel and other petroleum products.

“Ceylon Petroleum Corporation is no longer in a position to give diesel at concessionary rates to the CEB since the CPC itself is in a dire economic situation and that would increase the production cost of electricity, since CEB already incurring a daily loss of 45 million rupees.

Electricity consumers were yesterday given a subtle warning of impending power cuts if rains fail within the next two weeks. Business establishments were forewarned and advised to use generators during peak hours between 6.30 pm and 9.30 pm.

Power and Energy Minister W. D. J. Seneviratne presided at a press conference held at the Government Information Department where the CEB’s future plans were revealed. Top officials of the CEB also participated.

Seneviratne said water levels in all hydro power reservoirs had continued to decrease.

A Select Committee had been appointed to map out a future course of action to face the impending crisis without imposing power cuts. The Committee would submit its proposals and recommendations to the Cabinet within a fortnight, he said.

The CEB generates 27 million units of electricity per day using thermal power, since hydro power generation alone cannot meet the demand. It has been found at least 20 per cent of electricity is wasted each day. The Minister cited bulbs switched on unnecessarily and air conditioners were left on even after offices are closed for the day. Street lights were not switched off during daylight hours.

Using a litre of diesel the CEB generates only 5 units of electricity and each unit is sold at a loss of Rs 2. The Upper Kotmale hydro power plant, Kerawalapitiya gas turbine plant and Norochcholai coal power plant are all now in the process of being built at a cost of US dollars 1,500 million.

The Minister said Sri Lanka needs at least 300 MW added to the national grid each year to keep pace with the demand.