News
Final report on nationwide power outage delayed due to CEB withholding data
The final report of a committee appointed to investigate the countrywide power failure on August 17 has been delayed because the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) withheld crucial data, which it only handed over on Friday.
The outcome of the inquiry is now expected to be handed over to the Power Ministry on September 25 or 27, an authoritative source said. The 9-member committee, which produced an interim report within three days of the blackout, carried out fresh visits and extensive data analysis in an effort o reach a more detailed conclusion.
It had earlier slammed the CEB, saying its failure to avoid the mishap points to “significant lapses” in implementing critical recommendations made by experts in the past. It said the utility has no operations and maintenance-related risk management mechanisms and must introduce “standard, compliant, systematic, foolproof, safe procedures and maintenance protocols” during operation and maintenance.
But the committee had based its conclusions on initial data and said much more was required before its final determination. At the time, a more detailed report was expected in about two weeks. The process was delayed, however, by the CEB’s apparent reluctance to share important data, including from the Kerawalapitiya fault recorder.
The CEB has laid the blame for the blackout on an Electrical Superintendent (ES) who caused an earth fault at the Kerawalapitiya substation which triggered a system collapse. But the committee previously also highlighted the absence of basic best practices that contributed towards the incident.
It also took, at a minimum, six-and-a-half hours for power to be restored. This is one of the aspects being further studied.