Sri Lanka’s electricity generation is under serious threat as poor-quality coal and disrupted fuel imports raise the risk of extended power cuts, officials warned yesterday.
With coal plants running below capacity and crude oil shipments from the Middle East delayed, night-time blackouts of up to an hour could soon become routine, while daytime electricity may also face pressure.
An official involved in power generation told the Daily Mirror that coal-fired plants, designed to produce 900 megawatts, are currently producing 120–150 megawatts less due to low-quality coal. “The imported coal stocks are insufficient to operate coal turbines at full capacity,” he said.
The situation is further strained by dry weather, which has pushed up electricity demand. Diesel stocks, previously used to fill the gap, are running low, and crude oil (Murban crude) imports for the Sapugaskanda refinery from the UAE and Iran have been disrupted by the ongoing Middle East conflict. Rising crude oil prices are expected to push up the cost of electricity generation, further challenging supply.
“If we continue electricity generation without interruption while relying on uncertain fuel imports, it could be disastrous,” the official warned. Night-time power cuts may last 30 minutes to an hour, and if fuel stocks worsen, daily outages could stretch to three or four hours.
Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MP D.V. Chanaka issued a stark warning in Parliament yesterday, urging immediate action to prevent a full-scale electricity crisis. He revealed that while some shipments of diesel and petrol are arriving from private companies, no additional shipments are scheduled for April, putting electricity generation at risk.
In a bid to avert a crisis, the Cabinet has approved emergency coal procurement for the Lakvijaya Power Plant in Norochcholai. A total of 300,000±10% metric tons of coal will be delivered in five shipments, with the contract awarded to India’s M/s Taranjot Resources (Pvt) Ltd.
The Cabinet also greenlit a temporary, flexible framework to procure petroleum, LP gas, and coal outside standard procedures for three months, ensuring that Sri Lanka can respond swiftly to global market volatility caused by escalating conflicts in the Middle East.
With solar power providing around 2,500 megawatts during daytime, experts caution that uninterrupted electricity cannot be guaranteed without adequate coal and fuel stocks. The next few weeks will be crucial to prevent prolonged blackouts and maintain Sri Lanka’s energy security.
