March 05, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka could face electricity supply disruptions in the coming months due to concerns over the quality of coal used in power generation, according to a recent assessment by the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL).
The report indicates that lower-grade coal being supplied to certain thermal power stations may affect their operating capacity, potentially creating challenges in meeting electricity demand, particularly during night-time peak hours.
The analysis was carried out using electricity demand projections submitted by the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) for February 2026. Based on these estimates, it was assumed that hydropower plants would be able to contribute up to 1,300 megawatts to support the evening demand, while the Lakvijaya Power Station would generate a maximum of around 690 megawatts due to reduced capacity.
Officials attribute the limitation partly to operational concerns that may require each unit to reduce output by approximately 40 megawatts.
The report also highlighted a number of scheduled maintenance shutdowns at several key power plants this year, which could further tighten the available generation capacity. Unit 1 of the Lakvijaya Power Station is expected to undergo maintenance in June for about 25 days, followed by a similar maintenance period for Unit 2 in July.
In addition, the 270-megawatt Westcoast Power Plant is scheduled for maintenance in April lasting around 10 days, while the 150-megawatt KCCP II plant is due to undergo maintenance during May, June and July.
Taking these planned shutdowns into account, the Commission warned that the national grid could face potential capacity shortages in April, June and July if electricity demand rises to around 3,030 megawatts, 3,070 megawatts and 3,000 megawatts respectively. For comparison, the highest night-time peak demand recorded so far this year was 2,949 megawatts on February 25.
The report further cautioned that the situation could worsen if even a single major power plant or coal unit becomes unavailable during these periods, as this would significantly reduce the system’s ability to meet peak demand.
Regulators also noted that if generation at the Lakvijaya facility needs to be scaled down further to maintain safe and stable operations, the risk of supply shortages could increase.
Technical observations within the report pointed to the high ash content in some coal shipments and instances where steam temperatures exceeded recommended limits. These conditions, it said, could accelerate wear within boiler systems and increase the likelihood of equipment overheating, potentially affecting the reliability of the plant.
Energy authorities are expected to review the findings and consider measures to strengthen the stability of the national power supply while addressing the quality concerns surrounding imported coal.
