Wednesday, November 17, 2004
CEB playing dirty power tricks: EFL
By Damitha Hemachandra
Wednesday, November 17, 2004
The Environment Foundation Limited (EFL) yesterday called upon the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) to restore the cuts made in the Mini Hydro tariffs as decided by the Cabinet on October 6, 2004.
EFL condemned the early reduction of the purchasing rate of electricity generated by mini hydropower plant from Rs. 5.85 to Rs. 4.95 per unit as a serious mistake, which should have been rectified long ago.
While condemning the CEB's policy of subsidizing fossil fuel based power generation and CEB's clear preference towards 'dirty' energy sources against 'cleaner ' sources, EFL said that it is vital for the country to diversify into alternative renewable power generation sources such as more hydro, solar and wind power.
EFL spokesman, Vinod Munasinghe pointed out that the Mini Hydro electricity generation is one of the most important renewable sources of power in Sri Lanka, lacking adverse environmental and social impacts, unlike coal and diesel based power production.
"The field is one that should be expanded, provided that the projects bide the environment norms of the country, especially given the multiplicity of the small rivers and streams in the country," he said, adding that the CEB is yet to assess the true hydro electricity potential in the country.
The CEB had indicated 97.4 MW as the mini hydropower potential of the country with 251 selected sites while EFL pointed out that these estimations and statistics are outdated and should be reassessed to attain the current raining patterns.
There are nearly 50 Mini Hydropower Projects (MHPP) in the country, based mainly in the Mahaweli and Kelani river basins while the sudden increase of tariffs and reduction of buying price discouraged many MHPP operators.
Wednesday, November 17, 2004
The Environment Foundation Limited (EFL) yesterday called upon the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) to restore the cuts made in the Mini Hydro tariffs as decided by the Cabinet on October 6, 2004.
EFL condemned the early reduction of the purchasing rate of electricity generated by mini hydropower plant from Rs. 5.85 to Rs. 4.95 per unit as a serious mistake, which should have been rectified long ago.
While condemning the CEB's policy of subsidizing fossil fuel based power generation and CEB's clear preference towards 'dirty' energy sources against 'cleaner ' sources, EFL said that it is vital for the country to diversify into alternative renewable power generation sources such as more hydro, solar and wind power.
EFL spokesman, Vinod Munasinghe pointed out that the Mini Hydro electricity generation is one of the most important renewable sources of power in Sri Lanka, lacking adverse environmental and social impacts, unlike coal and diesel based power production.
"The field is one that should be expanded, provided that the projects bide the environment norms of the country, especially given the multiplicity of the small rivers and streams in the country," he said, adding that the CEB is yet to assess the true hydro electricity potential in the country.
The CEB had indicated 97.4 MW as the mini hydropower potential of the country with 251 selected sites while EFL pointed out that these estimations and statistics are outdated and should be reassessed to attain the current raining patterns.
There are nearly 50 Mini Hydropower Projects (MHPP) in the country, based mainly in the Mahaweli and Kelani river basins while the sudden increase of tariffs and reduction of buying price discouraged many MHPP operators.
