Former United National Party Deputy Leader and Parliamentarian Ravi Karunanayake has warned that Sri Lanka could face an electricity shortage if power demand increases amid prolonged dry weather and disruptions to generation capacity.
Speaking to the media, Karunanayake said renewable energy generation had been discouraged in the past, while noting that the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) has now recommended a reasonable tariff for renewable power.
He said he had repeatedly urged the Ministers in charge of electricity and energy to introduce battery energy storage systems, arguing that batteries could allow more renewable energy to be stored and supplied to the national grid when required.
Karunanayake welcomed the PUCSL’s decision to support a viable price for renewable electricity, describing it as a step taken with a forward-looking approach.
He also pointed to changing weather patterns and the impact of dry periods on hydropower generation. According to him, Sri Lanka typically experiences drier conditions from July to August, followed by heavier rainfall in October, November and December, before another dry period from January to May.
The MP said information provided in Parliament indicated that peak electricity demand at night is currently around 3,000 megawatts. He warned that demand could rise further during dry periods as economic activity and development accelerate.
Karunanayake also highlighted the temporary loss of generation capacity at the Norochcholai Power Plant, noting that one of its units is expected to be out of operation for maintenance for around 40 to 50 days.
He warned that the combination of rising demand, reduced hydropower generation and maintenance outages could create a supply shortfall.
He further stressed the need to identify cost-effective ways of meeting any electricity deficit, including through thermal power generation, while taking into account the Government’s commitments under the International Monetary Fund programme and the need to maintain electricity tariffs at levels that cover generation costs.
