Energy experts warn that low quality coal used at the Lakvijaya Power Plant is slashing electricity output, forcing costly diesel use while releasing dangerous pollution into the environment.
Sri Lanka’s energy concerns have intensified following fresh warnings about the use of low quality coal at the Lakvijaya Coal Power Plant in Norochcholai. Energy analyst Vidhura Ralapanawa says the latest shipment of coal is already affecting the power plant’s ability to generate electricity efficiently.
According to Ralapanawa, the introduction of this inferior coal has reduced the overall electricity generation capacity of the plant by approximately 82 megawatts. The decline has affected all three generating units, with the first unit losing around 45 megawatts, the second unit dropping by 15 megawatts, and the third unit losing about 22 megawatts.
The situation worsened when two coal grinding machines in Unit 3 became blocked on March 4. As a result, the generation capacity of the unit reportedly dropped sharply to about 170 megawatts, confirming internal reports from the Ceylon Electricity Board.
Ralapanawa explains that these technical problems forced the power plant to rely on expensive diesel burners to maintain the combustion process. In addition, the electrostatic precipitator system was reportedly switched off, allowing large volumes of fly ash to escape through the plant’s chimney and spread into the surrounding environment.
These developments challenge earlier assurances from senior electricity board officials who claimed that the Norochcholai plant could operate effectively even with lower grade coal supplies.
