by Himangi Jayasundere

Power and Energy Minister Anuruddha Ratwatte Wednesday said that the current power crisis could have been averted if the Norochcholai coal-fired project had been implemented.

He said that if the government had gone ahead with the project, its first phase which was to be completed in December 2000 would have by this time generated 300 mw into the national grid. However under the present circumstances the government would have to negotiate for fresh aid from Japan, he said.

According to the minister there appears to be no immediate solution to the power cuts except rain. Asked how long the power cuts will prevail, "only the weather gods can answer that", he said speaking to the press at a discussion with officials of the Department of Irrigation.

The minister appeared to have no knowledge of an earlier claim made by Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayake that the power cuts would be removed or relaxed in two weeks. The Prime Minister later said that he could not go along with his earlier promise due to the attack on America, as he had been intending to import some power generators from the US.

Minister Ratwatte Wednesday said that the national grid can take in only 100 megawatts in an emergency. While this scheme costs a massive rupees 15 billion, it will only reduce the power cuts by one hour. None of the other alternatives including the Norochcholai coal fired project are immediately enforceable.

He said that Sri Lanka would have to negotiate fresh aid for the coal power project and that negotiations will take three years, while construction will take another four years. Japan withdrew its funds following the spate of protests that emerged against the proposal to set up the Norochcholai coal-fired power plant and have directed their funds elsewhere now. "We will have to negotiate fresh aid" the minister said adding that Japan has agreed to consider the matter in 2003. However the cost for the Norochcholai project which was earlier estimated at US $ 450m will increase by another US $ 100m.

"Those who objected to the project for petty reasons must now take responsibility", he said adding that the CEB did everything possible to ensure that power cuts can be avoided. The minister pointed out that although the Norochcholai project was initially proposed by the UNP in 1992, they objected to it in 1994 when all steps had been taken by the PA government to go ahead with it. Apart from the UNP, environmentalists and the Bishop of Chilaw strongly objected to the project. "I met him (Bishop of Chilaw) many times and appealed to the Bishops conference and told them of the dire consequences of non-implementing the project which has now been evidenced", he said.

Meanwhile two projects which have been launched with the assistance of Japan and the US which are expected to generate 150 mw each into the national grid will come into implementation in November and July next year respectively.

According to the minister several alternative proposals have also been made to the ministry. Among these are proposals for production of electricity through gas made by some companies from Australia, the Middle East and Malaysia. The authorities are expected to hold discussions with these parties next week. However, even if the ministry goes ahead with these proposals, it will take three years to implement the projects which will require the existing thermal plants to be converted to gas.

He said that although there were proposals for wind powered electricity, this was not feasible as the cost involved was very high while the output of electricity was very low.

The CEB currently faces an overdraft of Rs. 14 b. Asked if the price of electricity would increase, "We are not going to harass the consumer any more", the minister said. However he admitted that the CEB was facing a huge loss by producing a unit of thermal power at Rs. 9.70 and selling it at Rs. 7.00 a unit. Asked how the CEB would earn its income, he said that a unit of hydro power was produced at Rs. 2.00 and sold at Rs. 4.55.