Kota Uda in Renewable Energy in Sri Lanka: How Come!

thuppahi

4 years ago

Sugath Kulatunga …presenting a NOTE in Facebook early in April 2022

The Daily Mirror of today produces a report of the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) [presented] in the third week of March that detailed everything that went wrong in the country’s renewable energy sector. A few excerpts from the report which has been made to the Auditor General are given below.

“Although 400 MW of renewable energy projects were scheduled to be constructed between 2015 and 2020, only the 100 MW Mannar wind power plant was completed in 2021 and commenced generating electricity. The Construction of the Kerawalapitiya LNG Power Plant commenced a year later to the proposed date. All other power plant projects haven’t even been tendered on schedule.”

“Altogether 1137 MW renewable energy projects and 875 MW thermal power plants have been delayed. “

“Calling tenders for the following large-scale renewable power plants approved by the CEB in 2017 was delayed for five years. The tender process is yet to commence in 2022. …. (the Report then refers to 3 Solar power generation projects with a total capacity of 370 MW.)

The Report concludes that “The CEB’s current structure has already demonstrated its inability to meet the needs of the current and future power industries. Reforms in the power industry are required to meet the government’s objective of 70% renewable energy by 2050.’

Another important recommendation is to “Prohibit officers of three upper management levels of the CEB becoming trade union members to prevent trade unions manipulating the CEB management.’

The Mirror states that the evidence shows that Sri Lanka’s power problem is the result of more than a decade of corruption and inept power system management. One cannot understand why successive governments have allowed this national crime to continue. Today one of the main grievances against the government is the continuing power cuts which not only severely inconvenience households but also affect economic activities. Have the supervisory authorities involved been incompetent or scared of the engineers or were they sharing the ill gained loot. The present government is paying the price.