Sri Lanka gets set to tackle possible power shortage by 2018

Sri Lanka is preparing to tackle a possible power shortage by 2018 with the approval granted by the electricity sector regulator to the Ceylon Electricity Board’s Least Cost Long Term Generation Expansion Plan (LCLTGEP) 2015 -2034, a senior official said.            
Regulator, the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) has insisted that the power plants listed in the LCLTGEP for the period of 2017 -2020 should be built, to prevent the possible power shortage in 2018 and beyond due to non-operation of hydro power plants during drought conditions.  
PUCSL Director General Damitha Kumarasinghe told a media conference in Colombo on Monday that it been has observed that under drought conditions, even with planned plant additions; Sri Lanka would have energy and capacity shortages in the years 2018/2019 and beyond. According to the CEB’S plan around 1,275 MW of power would be added to the national grid during the next four years. 
The proposed power plants include two thermal power pants with the capacity of 170 MW in Southern region, 105 MW gas turbines, and 300 MW natural gas power plant and several renewable energy power plants with the capacity of 700 MW including three major hydro power plants, he disclosed.
The failure to implant those power plants on time will result in the power shortage countrywide in years 2018/2019, he warned. (Bandula)