Officials of the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) have told the Prime Minister that the CEB is slow in making arrangements to connect the electricity generated by renewable energy to the mains power supply.
This was stated at a progress review meeting of the Ministry of Economic Policy and Plan Implementation held at Temple Trees this afternoon (25).
Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has instructed Secretary to the Ministry of Economic Policy and Planning Anusha Pelpita to take immediate action to remove obstacles to the use of renewable energy as a solution to the power crisis.
The progress of the Department of National Planning, Department of Census and Statistics, Institute of Policy Studies, Sustainable Development Council, Comptroller General’s Office, Department of Valuation, Sri Lanka Accounting and Auditing Standards Survey Board, Public Utility Board, Sri Lanka Public Utility Board and Mutual Fund Association was reviewed here.
It was revealed that a unit of electricity generated from fuel costs more than 60 rupees and a unit of electricity generated by renewable energy can be obtained at a minimum cost of around 20 rupees.
Accordingly, the Director General of the Public Utilities Commission Damith Kumarasinghe pointed out that there is no alternative but to renewable energy to solve the power crisis.
The officials of the Public Utilities Commission said that to Generate 19,800 GWh from Renewable Energy Sources out of the 28,200 GWh of electricity demand forecast to be available by 2030 as stated in the current government’s Prosperity Vision policiy statement to use 70% of the renewable energy, the Electricity Board Act 1969 should be amended and restructured to suit the present situation.
It was also pointed out that the CEB was slow in making arrangements to connect the electricity generated by renewable energy to the mains supply.
The Prime Minister stressed the need for an immediate solution to the current power crisis and pointed out that the people affected by the power crisis should be provided with uninterrupted power supply as soon as possible.
Anusha Pelpita the Secretary to the Ministry of Economic Policy and Plan Implementation; additional secretaries A. Wimalaweera, D.K. Wijesinghe, Additional Secretary to the Prime Minister Mahinda Gunaratne, Senior Assistant Secretary to the Prime Minister Priyanga Nanayakkara, Director General of the Department of Census and Statistics P. M. P. Anura Kumara, Comptroller General of the Comptroller General’s Office K.A. Ramya Kanthi, Chief Assessor, Government Valuation Department P.P.D.S. Muthukumarana, Director General of the Public Utilities Commission Damitha Kumarasinghe, Director General of the National Planning Department R. H. W. A. Kumarasiri, Director General of the Sustainable Development Council Chamindri Saparamadu, Executive Director of the Institute of Policy Studies Dr. Dushini Weerakoon, Director General of the Board of Accounts and Audit Standards Survey Anusha Mohotti and other officials were present at the occasion.
