All hydro power complexes in the country will have to shut down if catchment areas do not receive rain within the next two to three days, the Ministry of Power and Energy said yesterday. It said that water levels in the reservoirs had declined to dangerously low levels and were sufficient only for another week.

In the wake of the heightening power crisis, the Ministry in a press release called upon the state and private sectors and the public not to use power from the national grid for purposes of lighting sign boards and shop windows, floodlighting of any building, lighting carnival or fair grounds, fountains and the using of airconditioners.

If the hydro power complexes are closed, electricity will have to be generated entirely with thermal power, it said. At present almost 50% of the generated power is supplied through thermal power. From the total number of 16.696 m units supplied yesterday, 8.945 m units were generated through hydro power while 7.745 m were generated from thermal power.

However thermal power is also a costly mode of power generation.

There was strong speculation yesterday of extended power cuts.

The Ministry said that water in the Victoria reservoir which supplies water to the country’s largest hydro power plant, the Victoria power complex held 6.4% of it’s normal capacity. This complex generates, 210 mw. The Kotmale reservoir which supplies water to the Kotmale hydro power complex generating 201 mw was at 3.4% of it’s capacity on Thursday. These are the lowest levels yet to be reported in these reservoirs.

The largest reservoir from the Mahaweli reservoirs, Randenigala held 16.1% of it’s capacity, it’s lowest yet, while Samanalawewa reported 8.3%.

The hydro power generating capacity in the country is 1135 mw, While the total thermal power generation capacity is 335 mw.

According to the Met Department the catchment areas have not received for the last two weeks. (HJ)