Plans are underway to meet the power requirement of the country, estimated to be 2,700 Megawatts this year, said Eng. Anuruddha Thilakaratne, the incumbent President of the Ceylon Electricity Board Engineers’ Union in an interview with the Sunday Observer. He is a Senior Electrical Engineer with over 20 years of service in CEB, served in many divisions, including Hydropower stations and high voltage transmission projects. He spearheaded the project to supply power to the Northern Province, by connecting the national grid to the area after 30 years of conflict.
Excerpts from the interview:
Q: What are the benefits derived from the 2009 Electricity Act No. 20?
A: Power Stations, Upper Kothmale and Norochcholai were commissioned in 2013 and 2014 respectively. Construction work on both projects was commenced prior to 2009. Unfortunately, there was no such mega power generation projects started since then. The Sampur project, planned before 2009, which has shown some progress had been terminated by the previous regime. This stoppage of work of the Sampur project is a distinct and unbearable loss and damage to the power sector.
Instead of utilising the positive and beneficial contents in the act, various factions use this to disrupt the progress. There are two major adverse results from this action. Primarily, the CEB debt pile becomes higher and subsequently, it compels the CEB to purchase power from the private sector at whims and fancies of a few parties at a high price.
Q: We often discuss Solar and Wind power electricity. Why can’t we buy electricity from these two sources?
A: Currently, the CEB purchases residential solar power by paying a high amount. We have about 230 MW of residential roof top solar power which provides a certain amount of power during the day time. However, during peak periods in the night, power generation is virtually zero in solar power. Day time generation during the dry season is provided to the maximum capacity by both Lakvijaya and solar power where at night it is only limited to Lakvijaya and other diesel plants. Even though the current solar power supply provides a little consolation, it is not adequate for continuous supply.
Q: The people think that CEB Engineers Union is against renewable energy solutions. Is there a valid reason for this resistance?
A: It is a wrong opinion that we are against renewable energy. Factually, what we need is more efficient, low cost and high volume mega power plants to provide uninterrupted power supply. Those are called base load power plants.
The CEB is installing a large scale wind power plant in the Mannar Basin to generate 100 MW in the first phase. This will be a future national asset.
Presently, 1,360 MW generated from CEB owned large hydropower plants combined with other renewable power plants produces over 2,100 MW which is 50 percent of the total capacity of the grid. Two wind power plants with 10 MW capacities are being built in Chunnakkam. The CEB has called for bids from the private sector to build wind power plants in Mannar, Kappalthurai, Trincomalee, and Sammanthurai to provide 60 MW to the national grid.
The accusation that we are not in favour of solar or wind power is pure misconception spread by parties with dubious interests. We have initiated a program to generate power from waste, timber, animal excrement, sea waves and geothermal heat.
Q: Do you have plans to build Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) plants?
A: Many people think that LNG power generation plants are in the category of renewable power. It is total misunderstanding. LNG is fossil fuel. Although, the extraction process emits methane which is more harmful than Carbon dioxide, LNG is used in many countries for power generation, including Singapore which has the highest electricity tariff in Asia.
Over the years, we have had LNG in our plans. The CEB has commenced bidding process in 2016. However, two private entities selected as lowest bidders got involved in legal battles. Some of these establishments were not conforming to the laws undermining the process. This is a blow to the process of supplying 200 MW of increasing national requirement. We cannot always depend on emergency power purchasing. The CEB’s loss is Rs 75 billion and expected to rise to Rs 150 billion in 2022.
Q: What steps should be taken to reduce losses?
A: The best solution is to add low cost power generation such as Coal, the most effective thus far and alternatively LNG electricity generation which we are planning to introduce soon.
The CEB provides 16 billion electricity units annually to consumers. If we can reduce the production cost of a unit by 2 rupees, we can save Rs 32 billion annually.
Q: CEB Engineers say that there will be a fairly intense power cut in March onwards. How accurate is this statement?
A: Historically, the highest electricity demand is in February due to the dry weather. We have calculated the demand this year as 2,700Megawatts. We have installed power plants to meet this need. About 1800 MW is generated from Hydropower. However, the critical factor is that in some of the past dry seasons, we were not able to generate even 150 MW from Hydro-power. The water levels of the most of the reservoirs at spill capacity with recent rains are diminishing fast.
The Lakvijaya power plant in Norochcholai can be identified as a valuable national asset and produces 900 MW of low cost electricity in the dry seasons when the water levels of reservoirs are minimal. We have requested the authorities to find proper alternatives to fill the gap. The salient point is that during any dry season, Lakvijaya contributes 50 percent of the national requirement. In short, in a household or an office, one out of two bulbs is powered by the Lakvijaya plant.
If alternatives are not available by March, April, the CEB will not have the capacity to provide for the excessive electricity demand and impose a power cut, unless rain falls in catchment areas in February.
Q: As a professional union, what is your future vision?
A: Our Engineers and technical staff, consisting of 11,000 personnel are primarily responsible for the most vital and essential task of providing uninterrupted power supply to the country. Our involvement and engagement as the Engineers’ Union in all aspects pertaining to the CEB is imperative. We have never engaged in strikes for salary increases or for personal benefits. We have engaged in union action to build Norchcholai and Mannar power plants and similar power-related national issues.
We have offered our technical expertise to the new Government. They have agreed and accepted our offer. Our Electrical Engineers have excelled in the world arena, providing power solutions to many countries.