Delay in Coal shipments may hit power supplies in 2023

The upcoming years power production and supply was  uncertain as adequate stocks of coal shipments have not reached Lakvijaya power plant in Norochcholai, Manager of the Lakvijaya Power plant, Nalaka Wijekoon warned

 He explained that Sri Lanka is in a risk of facing a serious power crisis as the Norocholai power plant has not received the required amount of coal to produce power for the upcoming year.

The thermal power plant requires 38 ships of coal to annually produce the 5400 Gw (Giga Watt) but already they have only received four coal shipments.

Mr Wijekoon stressed that currently at least half of the shipments should reach the power plant.

He added that before Month of April the shipments should be unloaded at the power plant premises as ships find it difficult to reach Sri Lanka during off season.

He also stressed that even though the rest of the 34 ships suddenly reach the country they are in- equipped to unload all the shipments as they can only cater six ships within a week.

A visit to the plant on Saturday showed that the supplies available were on the decrease.

Pix and Text by Hiran Priyankara Jayasinghe