CEB loses Rs 1,008 M
By Niranjala Ariyawansha-December 27, 2013
Norochcholai closed for 14 days-CEB loses Rs 1,008 M
The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has incurred a loss amounting to Rs 1,008 million due to the closure of the Norochcholai Lakwijaya Power Plant over a period of 14 days, a CEB official said.
The power plant, which was closed down on numerous occasions since its inception due to technical defects, once again stopped its operations on 14 December 2013.
According to official sources, as a result of this latest closure, the CEB has to purchase electricity at an exorbitant rate of Rs 28 per unit, whereas the cost of production of a unit of electricity at the Norochcholai Plant is only Rs 9.50.
Meanwhile, President of Lanka Electricity Consumers' Association, Bandula Chandrasekera said, because of the closure of the Norochcholai Power Plant for three months this year, the loss suffered by the CEB is Rs 9,500 million.
He charged the transfer of control from a mechanical engineer to an electrical engineer was the main cause for the crisis.
Speaking to Ceylon Today, Chandrasekera said, "It is universally accepted that a coal power plant should be under the control of a mechanical engineer. However, owing to the pressures exerted by the CEB engineers' union, the Norochcholai Power Plant was put under the control of an electrical engineer. During the period when the power plant was under the control of the mechanical engineer this type of failures were not experienced. This engineer, who our country deemed as useless, is now in charge of a coal power plant in Vietnam."
Meanwhile, CEB General Manager Shavindra Silva said, a team of Chinese engineers had arrived on Wednesday (25) to examine the defect. In any case, he added, the charges levelled by Chandrasekera cannot be accepted, and the Board will not face such a huge loss just to gratify the demands of the engineers.
Silva, however, acknowledged the fact that there are issues among the Norochcholai engineers. "But I can say with full responsibility that these issues do not have a bearing on the breakdowns at the Norochcholai Power Plant. Though the Chinese engineers have commenced their probe into the mechanical defects, so far they have not been able to identify them. Nevertheless, they say if the defects can be detected, within five days the plant can be put into operation," he said.
He, even though declined to reveal exact figures, admitted that the CEB is forced to purchase power at an exorbitant rate because of the closure of the power plant and thus losing a huge amount of money.
Secretary of the CEB Joint Trade Unions, Ranjan Jayalal said, since the board does not belong only to its workers, but also to the people of the country, the losses incurred due to the closure of the plant must be made known to the nation.
"The situation is such that only when the plant is open, it makes news as this plant is eternally broken down. Because the power plant was broken down from August until 18 October, the pump that carries water to the plant was infested with hundreds of thousands of sea snails. To clear these snails, another several days had to be spent. This is how the Norochchoolai Plant is functioning," he said while also pinpointing that despite the General Manager's explanations the plant has gone to rack and ruin due to the arbitrary conduct of the engineers.
By Niranjala Ariyawansha-December 27, 2013
Norochcholai closed for 14 days-CEB loses Rs 1,008 M
The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has incurred a loss amounting to Rs 1,008 million due to the closure of the Norochcholai Lakwijaya Power Plant over a period of 14 days, a CEB official said.
The power plant, which was closed down on numerous occasions since its inception due to technical defects, once again stopped its operations on 14 December 2013.
According to official sources, as a result of this latest closure, the CEB has to purchase electricity at an exorbitant rate of Rs 28 per unit, whereas the cost of production of a unit of electricity at the Norochcholai Plant is only Rs 9.50.
Meanwhile, President of Lanka Electricity Consumers' Association, Bandula Chandrasekera said, because of the closure of the Norochcholai Power Plant for three months this year, the loss suffered by the CEB is Rs 9,500 million.
He charged the transfer of control from a mechanical engineer to an electrical engineer was the main cause for the crisis.
Speaking to Ceylon Today, Chandrasekera said, "It is universally accepted that a coal power plant should be under the control of a mechanical engineer. However, owing to the pressures exerted by the CEB engineers' union, the Norochcholai Power Plant was put under the control of an electrical engineer. During the period when the power plant was under the control of the mechanical engineer this type of failures were not experienced. This engineer, who our country deemed as useless, is now in charge of a coal power plant in Vietnam."
Meanwhile, CEB General Manager Shavindra Silva said, a team of Chinese engineers had arrived on Wednesday (25) to examine the defect. In any case, he added, the charges levelled by Chandrasekera cannot be accepted, and the Board will not face such a huge loss just to gratify the demands of the engineers.
Silva, however, acknowledged the fact that there are issues among the Norochcholai engineers. "But I can say with full responsibility that these issues do not have a bearing on the breakdowns at the Norochcholai Power Plant. Though the Chinese engineers have commenced their probe into the mechanical defects, so far they have not been able to identify them. Nevertheless, they say if the defects can be detected, within five days the plant can be put into operation," he said.
He, even though declined to reveal exact figures, admitted that the CEB is forced to purchase power at an exorbitant rate because of the closure of the power plant and thus losing a huge amount of money.
Secretary of the CEB Joint Trade Unions, Ranjan Jayalal said, since the board does not belong only to its workers, but also to the people of the country, the losses incurred due to the closure of the plant must be made known to the nation.
"The situation is such that only when the plant is open, it makes news as this plant is eternally broken down. Because the power plant was broken down from August until 18 October, the pump that carries water to the plant was infested with hundreds of thousands of sea snails. To clear these snails, another several days had to be spent. This is how the Norochchoolai Plant is functioning," he said while also pinpointing that despite the General Manager's explanations the plant has gone to rack and ruin due to the arbitrary conduct of the engineers.
