The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has confirmed the successful completion of maintenance work on the 3rd Generator at the Norochcholai Power Plant. Despite this accomplishment, the generator will not be connected to the national grid in the immediate future.
According to CEB Spokesperson Engineer Noel Priyantha, this decision stems from the fact that hydropower generation has already reached the required capacity. He explained that integrating the 3rd Generator into the national grid at this juncture would necessitate an additional cost for the coal required to operate the power plant.
Data provided by the CEB reveals that the reservoirs near hydropower plants have achieved a capacity of 97.7%. As of December 5, 2023, hydropower generation accounted for 63%, while thermal power generation stood at 15.7%.
Simultaneously, it was disclosed that the 2nd Generator at the Norochcholai Power Plant remains inactive, further contributing to the deliberative approach in optimizing the national power supply.