First of all, the government should address the issues and identify proper avenues to solve the power crisis without blaming it on the severe drought or the breakdown of the Norochcholai Power Station. Our motherland has so many resources, such as solar power, rainwater harvesting and not to mention the abundant rainforests, which are being destroyed without giving much thought to the real crisis we will face in years to come. This results in severe droughts and fast drying up of hydropower plants.
Whilst requesting the general public to use electricity with caution, the government should have a long-term plan to overcome this crisis. I personally do not think our Power and Energy Minister’s proposal to award a tender to a Turkish company to provide electricity using two power ships, which are going to be anchored indefinitely in the Galle Harbour and at Kerawalapitiya according to latest news reports, is a solution. What guarantee do we have that this proposal is not like jumping from the frying pan into the fire?
Instead the country should focus more on using renewable energy such as solar and wind power, which will be effective to some extent as long-term solutions for the power crisis without relying totally on hydropower, and more costly thermal power. It is time for the government to concentrate more on a long-term plan rather than trying to apply band aid solutions to the power crisis.
Surely, there needs to be a nationwide power policy, and for the household and industrial sectors too. The industrial sector can be requested and encouraged to use renewable power sources as it is not practical to ask them to consume a lesser amount of electricity. However, there are ways to consume lesser units of electricity and these should be encouraged.
The household sector can be requested for minimal use of electricity unless they’re using solar power systems in which case the supply would be added to the grid. There should be a clear system where these type of suggestions can be raised to the public and monitored with convenience. Only then can it be clearly identified as to who adheres to power saving tactics and how.
No method will not be lucrative and successful if there is no reward. Therefore, one of the best alternatives would be to have a concession or credit to the electricity bill.
Electricity is a costly affair in Sri Lanka for both – the domestic and commercial levels. The country is already paying high prices for electricity which has been further aggravated by the cost of mismanagement. Even during the recent power cuts due to drought and declining water levels in the reservoirs, consumers almost got the same electricity bill value as in usual months.
Much lies in the cost factor and continued supply of sources of power. This is what the power crisis should address. If Sri Lanka can continue to produce a unit of electricity at a lower cost with sufficient supply to meet the growth in electricity demand, that would be the ideal combination that can be achieved.
Why face a power crisis at all, when Sri Lanka is blessed with resources to generate different forms of energy? The reason is improper administration of the power & energy sector. With the increasing needs of the industrial and domestic segments, and the development activities currently taking place, Sri Lanka is fully aware that we cannot rely on the hydro power source alone. Although the coal power plant in Norochcholai contributes to the energy generated to the national grid, it does not fully meet the present day requirements in the event of any exigency.
In the light of the above, it is a priority that the government initiates a long term plan to resolve the power crisis by creating public – private partnership projects and providing the necessary infrastructure to establish mini hydro power projects and other renewable energy projects, such as solar and wind power . Solar energy, in particular, could be popularized by providing concessions to the business sector, so that business entities as well as retail customers will take steps to install solar panels, thus reaping benefits – by contributing energy units to the national grid, as well as reducing monthly expenditure. Since there are several established hydro power projects operated by the private sector, the government should extend the agreements in force to ensure a continuous supply to the national grid.
Since this government came to power, this is the third such power cut observed within three years’ time. First in September 2015, second in February 2016 and this is the worst and third. Unfortunately, nobody is taking any corrective measures to eliminate the root causes of the issue. You can’t blame only the government for this as, we are all collectively accountable for the situation.
As we depend on hydroelectricity, we need enough water to fill the dam. But when there’s no rain, the rivers don’t have sufficient water. Day by day we observe the cutting down of rainforests everywhere in the country, due to so-called development projects which are mainly carried out by politicians. An example would be the rain forest of Vilpaththu which is getting converted into a desert. The controversial road cutting through Sinharaja forest is another example. This is the root cause for not getting enough rain.
As a long term solution, cutting down of trees needs to be controlled. Violators should be punished irrespective of their status. Since we are blessed with sufficient sunlight, mass-scale solar power projects can be started in most areas of the country, where people can individually contribute for maintenance. In addition, government-owned solar power panel manufacturing plants for domestic use should be started and sold at reasonable prices. Rain water harvesting subunits should be established in the vicinity of dams and rivers wherever possible, where this water can be transferred to the main dam when necessary. Finally, a power cut is a power cut. The government should not discriminate VIPs’ areas with NIP ( Not Important Persons’) areas, as they are doing right now, because we are all citizens of the same country!
One of the foremost issues is the over-reliance on a single mode for the generation of power, which is hydro. Other alternative, low cost, beneficial and sustainable sources of power are not looked into. The country opted for coal as a source of thermal energy instead of solar energy with the intervention at state level. Solar power is a sustainable measure. If countries in Europe are investing in it, why can’t Sri Lanka do so?
On the other hand, climate change had an impact on hydro-electricity generation when droughts caused decreasing water levels in reservoirs, the very reason being that Sri Lanka is getting exposed to more sun power than before. Based on its location, close to the equator, this would be a viable option for Sri Lanka to handle the power crisis, with lower cost, lower emissions and less disruption of normal life.
First of all, the government should address the issues and identify proper avenues to solve the power crisis without blaming it on the severe drought or the breakdown of the Norochcholai Power Station. Our motherland has so many resources, such as solar power, rainwater harvesting and not to mention the abundant rainforests, which are being destroyed without giving much thought to the real crisis we will face in years to come. This results in severe droughts and fast drying up of hydropower plants.
Whilst requesting the general public to use electricity with caution, the government should have a long-term plan to overcome this crisis. I personally do not think our Power and Energy Minister’s proposal to award a tender to a Turkish company to provide electricity using two power ships, which are going to be anchored indefinitely in the Galle Harbour and at Kerawalapitiya according to latest news reports, is a solution. What guarantee do we have that this proposal is not like jumping from the frying pan into the fire?
Instead the country should focus more on using renewable energy such as solar and wind power, which will be effective to some extent as long-term solutions for the power crisis without relying totally on hydropower, and more costly thermal power. It is time for the government to concentrate more on a long-term plan rather than trying to apply band aid solutions to the power crisis.
Surely, there needs to be a nationwide power policy, and for the household and industrial sectors too. The industrial sector can be requested and encouraged to use renewable power sources as it is not practical to ask them to consume a lesser amount of electricity. However, there are ways to consume lesser units of electricity and these should be encouraged.
The household sector can be requested for minimal use of electricity unless they’re using solar power systems in which case the supply would be added to the grid. There should be a clear system where these type of suggestions can be raised to the public and monitored with convenience. Only then can it be clearly identified as to who adheres to power saving tactics and how.
No method will not be lucrative and successful if there is no reward. Therefore, one of the best alternatives would be to have a concession or credit to the electricity bill.
Electricity is a costly affair in Sri Lanka for both – the domestic and commercial levels. The country is already paying high prices for electricity which has been further aggravated by the cost of mismanagement. Even during the recent power cuts due to drought and declining water levels in the reservoirs, consumers almost got the same electricity bill value as in usual months.
Much lies in the cost factor and continued supply of sources of power. This is what the power crisis should address. If Sri Lanka can continue to produce a unit of electricity at a lower cost with sufficient supply to meet the growth in electricity demand, that would be the ideal combination that can be achieved.
Why face a power crisis at all, when Sri Lanka is blessed with resources to generate different forms of energy? The reason is improper administration of the power & energy sector. With the increasing needs of the industrial and domestic segments, and the development activities currently taking place, Sri Lanka is fully aware that we cannot rely on the hydro power source alone. Although the coal power plant in Norochcholai contributes to the energy generated to the national grid, it does not fully meet the present day requirements in the event of any exigency.
In the light of the above, it is a priority that the government initiates a long term plan to resolve the power crisis by creating public – private partnership projects and providing the necessary infrastructure to establish mini hydro power projects and other renewable energy projects, such as solar and wind power . Solar energy, in particular, could be popularized by providing concessions to the business sector, so that business entities as well as retail customers will take steps to install solar panels, thus reaping benefits – by contributing energy units to the national grid, as well as reducing monthly expenditure. Since there are several established hydro power projects operated by the private sector, the government should extend the agreements in force to ensure a continuous supply to the national grid.
Since this government came to power, this is the third such power cut observed within three years’ time. First in September 2015, second in February 2016 and this is the worst and third. Unfortunately, nobody is taking any corrective measures to eliminate the root causes of the issue. You can’t blame only the government for this as, we are all collectively accountable for the situation.
As we depend on hydroelectricity, we need enough water to fill the dam. But when there’s no rain, the rivers don’t have sufficient water. Day by day we observe the cutting down of rainforests everywhere in the country, due to so-called development projects which are mainly carried out by politicians. An example would be the rain forest of Vilpaththu which is getting converted into a desert. The controversial road cutting through Sinharaja forest is another example. This is the root cause for not getting enough rain.
As a long term solution, cutting down of trees needs to be controlled. Violators should be punished irrespective of their status. Since we are blessed with sufficient sunlight, mass-scale solar power projects can be started in most areas of the country, where people can individually contribute for maintenance. In addition, government-owned solar power panel manufacturing plants for domestic use should be started and sold at reasonable prices. Rain water harvesting subunits should be established in the vicinity of dams and rivers wherever possible, where this water can be transferred to the main dam when necessary. Finally, a power cut is a power cut. The government should not discriminate VIPs’ areas with NIP ( Not Important Persons’) areas, as they are doing right now, because we are all citizens of the same country!
One of the foremost issues is the over-reliance on a single mode for the generation of power, which is hydro. Other alternative, low cost, beneficial and sustainable sources of power are not looked into. The country opted for coal as a source of thermal energy instead of solar energy with the intervention at state level. Solar power is a sustainable measure. If countries in Europe are investing in it, why can’t Sri Lanka do so?
On the other hand, climate change had an impact on hydro-electricity generation when droughts caused decreasing water levels in reservoirs, the very reason being that Sri Lanka is getting exposed to more sun power than before. Based on its location, close to the equator, this would be a viable option for Sri Lanka to handle the power crisis, with lower cost, lower emissions and less disruption of normal life.