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Enough rain in catchment areas, but CEB wants more to remove surcharge
Despite showers in the catchment areas, hydropower supplies only around 10 to 12 per cent of the total power generated, officials said yesterday.The Meteorology Department’s duty officer, Jeewan Karunaratna, said last night there could be heavy rainfall in the catchment areas. “Rains are expected throughout the month in these areas,” he said.
However, Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) Chairman W.B. Ganegala said the water levels at the reservoirs stood between 18 per cent and 26 per cent of their capacity this week but levels should be maintained at 60 per cent to 65 per cent to generate enough hydroelectricity and remove the fuel adjustment charge.
“Power generation in the country is directly linked to weather conditions, especially how we get rain. Unfortunately since last October we have not received the expected rainfall and this forced us to depend heavily on thermal power generation,” he said.
Though satisfactory rains were received in September last year, the absence of inter-monsoonal showers in October and November caused most reservoirs to remain at low levels, he said. However early last year President Mahinda Rajapaksa said the fuel adjustment charge was only a temporary measure.
Meanwhile, CEB figures show that it spent Rs. 23,500 million to produce thermal power from January to April, Rs. 41,700 million to buy power from private companies, Rs. 4,200 million for coal power generation at Norochcholai and Rs. 1,800 million for hydropower generation.
“The CEB has the capacity to generate 3,300 MW of electricity while the daily usage is 2,000 MW. The Norochcholai coal power plant generates 600 MW of electricity from Units 1 and 2,” the Chairman said. He said the third unit which would produce 300 MW of power would be ready by the end of July.