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Power Minister Gamini Lokuge
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Power Minister Gamini Lokuge will submit a Cabinet paper today to tap supplies from the private sector to ease off the current energy crisis.
“I have prepared a Cabinet paper to purchase electricity from private power plants and the proposal will be submitted to the Cabinet of Ministers on Monday,” Power Minister Gamini Lokuge said yesterday.
He also said that the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has taken steps to purchase fuel directly from the Lanka IOC for power generation purposes.
Last week, Cabinet Co-Spokesman/Mass Media Minister Dullas Alahapperuma revealed the CEB might get the mandate to directly import fuel given the energy crisis.
He pointed out that it has been enacted by statute that only the Energy Ministry and Ceylon Petroleum Corporation can direct import petroleum.
In the context of an escalating energy crisis amidst depleting foreign reserves, Minister Alahapperuma said that the $ 500 million Indian credit facility for fuel is likely to be explored if both Finance Ministers agree on it.
Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila told the Daily FT that steps have been taken to resume activities at the Sapugaskanda Oil Refinery from today.
The operation of the refinery was suspended on 3 January due to a shortage of crude oil.
However, a stock of 90,000 metric tons of crude oil has been imported thus far.
Accordingly, it is reported that after the pumping of crude oil to the Sapugaskanda oil refinery, operations can resume from 2 February.
