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CEB meets PUCSL deadline with revised long term power generation plan
View(s):The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has finally forwarded its Long Term Generation Plan to the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL), meeting an August 1 deadline set by it for the submission of the plan.
CEB General Manager (GM), M.C. Wickramasekara confirmed that, the Board submitted the plan to the PUCSL this week and now awaits its approval.
While not certain of a timeframe for the PUCSL’s decision, Mr. Wickramasekara said he expected the commission to decide on the matter quickly, as the document was a revised version of the plan submitted earlier.
The submission of the plan, officially known as the Least Cost Long Term Generation Expansion Plan (LCLTGEP) 2015-2034, had been delayed, with the PUCSL sending several reminders to the CEB since December, last year.
On July 4, the PUCSL finally sent a directive to the CEB, ordering the Board to submit its revised Plan on or before August 1.
“The Commission has observed that, under drought conditions, even with planned plant additions, Sri Lanka is envisaged for energy and energy capacity shortages in years 2018/2019 and beyond, and the Transmission Licensee’s delay in submission of LCLTGEP 2015-2034 could further aggravate this situation,” stated the directive, signed by PUCSL Chairman Saliya Matthew to the CEB GM.
The submission of the revised LCLTGEP was delayed by the Government considering whether to completely do away with coal as a power source for the country’s energy sector.
The Government had already decided to convert the proposed coal power plant in Sampur into Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). However, with several parties, including the CEB Engineers’ Union (CEBEU) calling for a scientific study to be conducted before deciding on the future of coal, the revised plan contains a mix of both coal and LNG power plants, the Sunday Times learns.