The Ceylon Electricity Board Engineers’ Union (CEBEU) warns that a major power cut is expected in the country due to the fuel shortages and declining water levels in reservoirs.
President of the CEBEU Saumya Kumarawadu said that he is requesting people to be prepared for a power cut of four hours daily.
He says that the Ceylon Electricity Board has only 3000 metric tons of diesel available for two or three days and furnace oil only sufficient for 22 days.
Accordingly, the CEB will have to cut off power after three days and reduce the demand, failing which it will not be able to maintain the balance of the power grid, he said.
Use of water from reservoirs for hydropower generation have been restricted due to the fact that the incoming water is being managed primarily for agricultural, drinking and environmental purposes.
The union further points out that there are no alternative power plants in the country that can supply power in the event of breakdowns due to delays in the construction of approved power plants and the cancellation of new power generation projects. (NewsWire)