Sri Lanka Crisis: Coal Shortage Likely To Trigger 10-Hr Power Cuts Everyday From Next Year

Colombo: Sri Lanka may see power outages lasting ten hours a day, in January if enough coal is not delivered in time. The engineer union at the government-run Ceylon Electricity Board claimed that the coal supply is only enough to generate electricity till the end of the year.

According to Union President Nihal Weeraratne, the Norochcholai power plant supplies around 45% of the island nation’s energy needs. Hydroelectric power cannot be used at the same time because it is the lean season till March.

The 38 coal ships that are anticipated by April of next year have already been delivered to the electrical board, Weeraratne stated. By January 11th, the power plant should receive the coal from the sixth ship. The plant won’t be able to produce enough energy due to a delay in the delivery of coal, forcing up to 10 hours a day of power outages.