The State-run Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has commenced curtailing the release of hydropower to maintain water levels during the upcoming dry season, The Sunday Morning learns.
It is reliably learnt that the CEB is targeting the generation of hydropower while maintaining reservoir capacities at a minimum of 600 MW considering the agricultural and drinking water requirements.
As of Friday (9), hydro generation was only 24.3% while the major share of the grid had been generated by thermal coal power, which is 44.1% of the total energy requirement. Thermal oil generation was only 9.2%.
When contacted by The Sunday Morning, CEB Spokesman Deputy General Manager Noel Priyantha said that a healthy water level had to be maintained until the next monsoon season commenced.
Priyantha outlined the comprehensive measures taken by the electricity sector to address the challenges posed by an anticipated drought in Sri Lanka.
Revealing that dispatch schedules had been finalised, Priyantha emphasised on the necessity of balancing electricity supply amidst reduced water levels to avoid power cuts.
He highlighted the importance of public awareness in energy conservation, linking electricity costs directly to the availability of water for hydroelectric power generation.
He also highlighted significant developments and challenges faced due to impending drought conditions, citing a predicted Rs. 18 billion shortfall in December 2024 based on the Department of Meteorology’s forecast.
With a strategic focus on hydroelectric power utilisation, Priyantha advocated for a reduction in tariffs, emphasising on the importance of securing profitability under challenging conditions.
Looking ahead to 2024, he stressed the critical need for plans and predictions from the Department of Meteorology, indicating the potential for tariff revisions up to four times a year.
Meanwhile, as reported last week, the CEB is planning to float a new tender to procure nearly 150 MW of supplementary power to address the anticipated deficit during the upcoming dry season, starting from the end of March.
Cabinet approval for acquiring this supplementary power was secured in 2022. However, the urgency for emergency power caused a shift in priorities, leading to the delay in procurement.
Despite the already-procured emergency power agreements expected to expire by the end of next month, the board is yet to decide whether to extend agreements with Independent Power Producers (IPPs) currently providing emergency power.
Meanwhile, the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) has raised concerns that the CEB has proposed to dispatch power plants, while claiming that it had dispatched power plants without a generation licence in 2024.