The Ministry of Power and Renewable Energy has decided to purchase another 500 MW of barge-mounted emergency power to meet the electricity demand in 2020.
However, the decision to seek approval for more barge-mounted emergency power comes at a time when the controversial proposal to procure 400 MW of supplementary power from a Turkish company is still pending before the Cabinet of Ministers.
Power and Renewable Energy Ministry Director – Development Sulakshana Jayawardena has said the Ministry had decided to seek open tenders to procure another 500 MW of emergency power for 30 months until the commissioning of a 300 MW LNG (liquid natural gas) power plant in Kerawalapitiya.
Accordingly, a Technical Evaluation Committee (TEC) comprising Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) engineers and ministry officials has been appointed and the normal tender process would be followed for the purchase of 500 MW of emergency power for next year.
According to the Power Ministry official, the 400 MW of supplementary power from the Turkish company would be purchased only for a short period of time, and later, the 500 MW of barged-mounted power would be added to the grid.
Meanwhile, two 200 MW Turkish powerships are expected to be stationed at Galle and Kerawalapitiya for six and nine months, respectively to help meet the existing electricity demand.
The 500 MW of barged power will be procured for next year for a period of 30 months.
The purchase of power from the powerships faced yet another hurdle when the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) stated that there was no space to berth the powership at the Galle Harbour. However, the SLPA had later agreed to provide the facilities there.
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