The Hon. Kumara Jayakody - Minister of Energy

¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, the answer is as follows:

¶ 02 (a) (i) No generator has been purchased for this purpose. However, according to information provided by the Ceylon Electricity Board, in 2015 the Government of China donated two generator units through the then Ministry of Disaster Management, which were handed over to the Ceylon Electricity Board and thereafter allocated to the Norochcholai Power Plant. The cooling system of the Lakvijaya Power Plant (Norochcholai) and related systems draw auxiliary power from the plant’s own generation units; when the generation units are not operating, the electricity required to run the cooling system is drawn from the national grid.

¶ 03 (ii) The two generators were received as a donation from the Government of China.

¶ 04 (iii) Regarding the feasibility of using these generators to supply power to the cooling system in the event of a total system failure (blackout), tests are being conducted by the plant’s engineers together with the construction company and the design institute. Following the tests, necessary modifications to the cooling system will be carried out and arrangements have been made to deploy the two generators properly.

¶ 05 (iv) Action is being taken as stated above.

¶ 06 (b) Does not arise.