The Lanka Coal Company (LCC) plans to unload eight shipments this month before the coal unloading process in Puttalam ends for the season.
The LCC aims to secure sufficient coal to operate the Lakvijaya Power Plant, the country’s only coal power plant in Norochcholai, until September this year, The Sunday Morning learns.
It is learnt that a total of 22 shipments have already been unloaded and that another two shipments are lined up offshore to be unloaded at the port in Puttalam.
Another five shipments are enroute and are presently (8) sailing towards Sri Lanka.
According to the LCC, the company had planned to unload 30 shipments before the unloading season ended, with the sea becoming more difficult to navigate closer to shore in May.
“We have already unloaded 22 vessels for the season; the 23rd and 24th are already in Puttalam waiting to be unloaded. That will happen within the next couple of days. We also have another five vessels heading towards Puttalam and another will be loaded soon. Altogether, there will be 30 vessels by around 5 May,” LCC Chairman Shehan Sumanasekara told The Sunday Morning when asked about the country’s coal situation.
According to him, the shipments are currently being supplied by Swiss Singapore and Coral Energy Ltd. The annual coal consumption of Lakvijaya is 2.2 million MT, according to the LCC.
At present, only two generators at Lakvijaya are operating, with one at low capacity while another one has been shut down due to a technical fault. Prior to the recent breakdown, nearly 40% of the firm energy demand of Sri Lanka was fulfilled by the Norochcholai Coal Power Plant.
Source By themorning.lk
