Features
Retreat from Sanity in the Power Sector
by Parakrama Jayasinghe
“Sanity has Prevailed No More Coal Power Plants” . This is the title of my article in the Sunday Island in October 2016 ( ) after the Secretary, Ministry of Power and Energy gave an undertaking to the Supreme Court on September 13, 2016 , that the proposed Sampur coal power plant will not be built. This undertaking did not result from the Ministry or the CEB exercising any rational reasoning of the insanity of continuing to push for more and more coal power plants, but due to the undeniable and obvious negative impacts of the proposed coal power plant laid before the Supreme Court. The writing was on the wall that if the plea by the Environmental Foundation Ltd supported by many other concerned organizations and individuals, if heard by the court would have resulted in the same outcome.
The euphoria felt by the country at large was spelled out by the first paragraph of my above article
“Sri Lanka and those of us who have battled for decades to highlight the dangers posed by use of coal for power generation, both for the environment in general and the health of the people without exception, can at last heave a sigh of relief. It is hardly necessary to emphasize that Sri Lanka not having any indigenous coal reserves, had no compulsion to even consider this option until all other options are exhausted.”
That was back in 2016. Anyone who has even a nodding acquaintance with the recent trends in the power sector in the rest of the world, would therefore be aghast to listen to Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa declaring in the recent budget speech that a 300 MW coal power plant is proposed to be built at Norochcholai. It will be recalled that Rajapaksa in his Presidential Election Manifesto ” Vision for the Future ” declared
Indigenous energy resources will be developed to the optimum levels to minimise dependence on non-indigenous resources, subject to economic, environmental and social constraints. (Page 5)
This was in 2010. The changes in the last decade on all “economic, environmental and social constraints” without exception have made even consideration of any coal power plants totally insane._
And President Gotabaya Rajapakse went even further to declare a goal of achieving 80% renewable contribution to the energy sector by year 2030. As such there is absolutely no room for any more coal power plants as the present three are expected to continue to operate and limp along till then.
So we, the citizens are nonplussed by this turn of events with the Minister for Power and Energy Dulles Alahapperuma bragging in parliament (Nov 28, 2020) that work on the fourth coal power plant at Norochchloai will commence in two weeks.
Even though the Sampur coal power plant was shelved, the CEB never accepted that Sri Lanka could have a secure and reliable power supply in the future without depending on more coal power plants. Enough has been said about the harm being done by this power plant to the environment and the health of the people and will not be repeated here. The CEB continued its campaign to do further harm by proposing to add some 2,700 MW if coal power in their proposed Long Term Generation Plan for 2018-2037.
Fortunately the totally false assumptions and forecasts used to portray coal power as the least cost option was debunked by many and the PUCSL approved an amended proposal which had 4500 MW Natural Gas power plants instead of any more coal power plants. ( )
The CEB was not ready to accept this decision of the regulator, which is its legal responsibility and through its Engineers Union launched a campaign to discredit the PUCSL, the legally constituted regulator. The government did not have the backbone to lay down the law and tell the CEB authorities to abide by the LTEGP approved by the PUCSL. This would have been the procedure in any country when any licensee flouts the regulator’s orders and faces revoking of the permits issued to them. While in Sri Lanka, the country like no other irrespective of the government in power, such stipulations apply only to private sector developers of renewable energy.
Or does this portend the future way of doing things when there are rumblings of the Electricity Act to be changed to take away the powers of the PUCSL. The PUCSL has done yeoman service in past years to protect the rights of the consumers as well as the country, by debunking the totally fallacious arguments set forth by the utility, trying to pretend that coal power is the least cost option. Without an independent regulator for the sector, the CEB with the monopoly status could continue their totally irresponsible plans and programs.
It is unfortunate to see that they have managed to hoodwink the present government and the Ministry of Power and Energy as well, as they have continued to do so for several decades. The newest ploy was to propagate a myth of ” Clean Coal ” The fact that there is no such animal was clearly explained in the Article Dirty Coal Raising its Head disguised as “Clean Coal” ()
If these unwarranted and totally unwise power projects are permitted to go through, “The Vision for Prosperity and Splendour” of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa which the country hoped would embody the national policy of the present government, would be relegated to just an election manifesto like many others in the past, just promises with no intention of fulfilling.
But all that is required to reach a clear vision for the future of coal for electricity, is to view the dozens of postings on the internet. Many countries with vast indigenous coal resources are shelving plans for any more coal power plants and increasing numbers of existing coal power plants are being closed down. A few of these news item out of hundreds are listed below.
The World Scene – New Coal Plants canceled
Bangladesh’s Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources proposed 350 MW Gazaria coal plant be dropped. Bangladeshi government officials have confirmed almost 90 per cent of proposed coal power plants may be scrapped,
Coal power is no more a cheap option and it’s becoming more expensive for imported coal. -Mohammad Hossain, the Director General of the Bangladesh Power, Energy and Mineral Resources research body.
Maharashtra’s Minister for Energy, Nitin Raut, rejected construction of a new 660 megawatt (MW) coal unit at the aging 910 MW Nasik plant owned by the Maharashtra State Power Generation Company
Canada:
Donkin mine in Nova Scotia, which opened in 2017, closes
UK:
The 2000 MW Fiddler’s Ferry and the 1725 MW Aberthaw power stations have closed
Global coal power capacity declined by 21,200 megawatts (MW) in the first half of 2020 with the largest changes being the closure of 8300 MW in European Union countries and 5400 MW in the US,
Poland Could Phase Out Coal by 2030 in Business As Usual
French will close its 600 megawatt (MW) Provence coal plant in France two years earlier than planned.
Other countries shouldn’t settle for dirtier, high-carbon power projects now that China has decided to phase them out domestically, Han Chen in China Dialogue.
Romanian Government confirms no more coal plants to be built:
Marubeni Corporation, will exit from the consortium proposing to build the 630 MW Thabametsi coal plant in South Africa.
NGO groups in the Philippines have welcomed the decision by the South Korean utility KEPCO that it will not proceed with the proposed Sual 2 coal plant,
Prime Minister, Yoshihide Suga, said he would “fundamentally change Japan’s long-term reliance on coal fired energy” as the country moved to be carbon neutral by 2050
South Korea unveils 2050 carbon neutrality target. “We will create new markets and industries and create jobs by replacing coal power generation with renewable energy,”
Pakistan: Government considers ban on new plants that rely on imported gas and coal
( The web references to these news items are available if requested)
It is seen that these decisions come from all over the world and from many countries with their own coal resources. There is no earthly reason for Sri Lanka to take an opposite view, unless driven by private agendas. Furthermore the source of funding for coal power plants are also drying out.
No more Funding for New Coal Power Plants
Sumitomo announces suspension of loans for new coal plants
Review urges Asian Development Bank to support coal phase-out…
The Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) has decided not to finance the proposed 1050 MW Lamu coal plant in Kenya.
Samsung’s key insurance affiliates pledge to halt coal investments
Coal is no longer the Least Cost Option
Solar and Wind power are now cheaper than coal in all countries. This has been proven time and again in Sri Lanka too as indicated by the responses to the recent tenders.
In addition to the concerns on the environmental damage the very clear evidence that Renewable Energy resources such as wind and solar are now far cheaper to generate electricity than even operating existing coal power plants. Therefore even on economic grounds opting for more coal power plants for Sri Lanka is sheer lunacy, unless of course there are other reasons which do not come into the public domain. Why this haste to commence work on a power plant in blatant violation of the Electricity Act as well as the due process for evaluating the environmental impacts? Maybe the plan is to get docile agencies to formulate the Terms of Reference and for conducting the EIAs as was done in the case of existing coal power plant, as well as in case of the Sampur coal power plant. It will be interesting to see to what extent the TOR will cover the recommendations by Dr Janaka Ratnasiri in his article (). In addition the SLEMA report on the externalities clearly shows that a minimum of Rs 10.00 per unit has to be added to the cost of generation from coal to cover the impact on the environment and the health aspects.
In this situation, a ray of hope is the directive given by the Chairman of the COPE that the Central Environmental Authority should have the jurisdiction to conduct the EIA process as the possible environmental impact would affect the whole country, beyond the boundaries of the North Western Province.
But then who knows to what extent the CEB or the Ministry will abide by the directions of COPE when they regard the directives of the Regulator PUCSL in utter disdain.
There are many Renewable Energy Projects and even Natural Gas projects already approved by the government , which will ensure the future energy security without resorting to this dirty coal option, whatever the effort to whilewash it.
As such Sri Lanka can only wait in hope for sanity to return as nothing seems to have changed in the power sector, irrespective of the change in government and lofty promises given.
Eng Parakrama Jayasinghe
E Mail:
28th Nov 2020
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There’s an ill more dangerous and pervasive than the Coronavirus that’s currently sweeping Sri Lanka. That is the fear to express one’s convictions. Across the public sector of the country in particular many persons holding high office are stringently regulating and controlling the voices of their consciences and this bodes ill for all and the country.
The corrupting impact of fear was discussed in this column a couple of weeks ago when dealing with the military coup in Myanmar. It stands to the enduring credit of ousted Myanmarese Head of Government Aung San Suu Kyi that she, perhaps for the first time in the history of modern political thought, singled out fear, and not power, as the principal cause of corruption within the individual; powerful or otherwise.
To be sure, power corrupts but the corrupting impact of fear is graver and more devastating. For instance, the fear in a person holding ministerial office or in a senior public sector official, that he would lose position and power as a result of speaking out his convictions and sincere beliefs on matters of the first importance, would lead to a country’s ills going unaddressed and uncorrected.
Besides, the individual concerned would be devaluing himself in the eyes of all irrevocably and revealing himself to be a person who would be willing to compromise his moral integrity for petty worldly gain or a ‘mess of pottage’. This happens all the while in Lankan public life. Some of those who have wielded and are wielding immense power in Sri Lanka leave very much to be desired from these standards.
It could be said that fear has prevented Sri Lanka from growing in every vital respect over the decades and has earned for itself the notoriety of being a directionless country.
All these ills and more are contained in the current controversy in Sri Lanka over the disposal of the bodies of Covid victims, for example. The Sri Lankan polity has no choice but to abide by scientific advice on this question. Since authorities of the standing of even the WHO have declared that the burial of the bodies of those dying of Covid could not prove to be injurious to the wider public, the Sri Lankan health authorities could go ahead and sanction the burying of the bodies concerned. What’s preventing the local authorities from taking this course since they claim to be on the side of science? Who or what are they fearing? This is the issue that’s crying out to be probed and answered.
Considering the need for absolute truthfulness and honesty on the part of all relevant persons and quarters in matters such as these, the latter have no choice but to resign from their positions if they are prevented from following the dictates of their consciences. If they are firmly convinced that burials could bring no harm, they are obliged to take up the position that burials should be allowed.
If any ‘higher authority’ is preventing them from allowing burials, our ministers and officials are conscience-bound to renounce their positions in protest, rather than behave compromisingly and engage in ‘double think’ and ‘double talk’. By adopting the latter course they are helping none but keeping the country in a state of chronic uncertainty, which is a handy recipe for social instabiliy and division.
In the Sri Lankan context, the failure on the part of the quarters that matter to follow scientific advice on the burials question could result in the aggravation of Islamophobia, or hatred of the practitioners of Islam, in the country. Sri Lanka could do without this latter phobia and hatred on account of its implications for national stability and development. The 30 year war against separatist forces was all about the prevention by military means of ‘nation-breaking’. The disastrous results for Sri Lanka from this war are continuing to weigh it down and are part of the international offensive against Sri Lanka in the UNHCR.
However, Islamophobia is an almost world wide phenomenon. It was greatly strengthened during Donald Trump’s presidential tenure in the US. While in office Trump resorted to the divisive ruling strategy of quite a few populist authoritarian rulers of the South. Essentially, the manoeuvre is to divide and rule by pandering to the racial prejudices of majority communities.
It has happened continually in Sri Lanka. In the initial post-independence years and for several decades after, it was a case of some populist politicians of the South whipping-up anti-Tamil sentiments. Some Tamil politicians did likewise in respect of the majority community. No doubt, both such quarters have done Sri Lanka immeasurable harm. By failing to follow scientific advice on the burial question and by not doing what is right, Sri Lanka’s current authorities are opening themselves to the charge that they are pandering to religious extremists among the majority community.
The murderous, destructive course of action adopted by some extremist sections among Muslim communities world wide, including of course Sri Lanka, has not earned the condemnation it deserves from moderate Muslims who make-up the preponderant majority in the Muslim community. It is up to moderate opinion in the latter collectivity to come out more strongly and persuasively against religious extremists in their midst. It will prove to have a cementing and unifying impact among communities.
It is not sufficiently appreciated by governments in the global South in particular that by voicing for religious and racial unity and by working consistently towards it, they would be strengthening democratic development, which is an essential condition for a country’s growth in all senses.
A ‘divided house’ is doomed to fall; this is the lesson of history. ‘National security’ cannot be had without human security and peaceful living among communities is central to the latter. There cannot be any ‘double talk’ or ‘politically correct’ opinions on this question. Truth and falsehood are the only valid categories of thought and speech.
Those in authority everywhere claiming to be democratic need to adopt a scientific outlook on this issue as well. Studies conducted on plural societies in South Asia, for example, reveal that the promotion of friendly, cordial ties among communities invariably brings about healing among estranged groups and produces social peace. This is the truth that is waiting to be acted upon.
Author
By Sanjeewa Jayaweera
It was on 3rd January 1972 that our family arrived in Karachi from Moscow. Our departure from Moscow had been delayed for a few weeks due to the military confrontation between Pakistan and India. It ended on 16th December 1971. After that, international flights were not permitted for some time.
The contrast between Moscow and Karachi was unbelievable. First and foremost, Moscow’s temperature was near minus 40 degrees centigrade, while in Karachi, it was sunny and a warm 28 degrees centigrade. However, what struck us most was the extreme warmth with which the airport authorities greeted our family. As my father was a diplomat, we were quickly ushered to the airport’s VIP Lounge. We were in transit on our way to Rawalpindi, the airport serving the capital of Islamabad.
We quickly realized that the word “we are from Sri Lanka” opened all doors just as saying “open sesame” gained entry to Aladdin’s cave! The broad smile, extreme courtesy, and genuine warmth we received from the Pakistani people were unbelievable.
This was all to do with Mrs Sirima Bandaranaike’s decision to allow Pakistani aircraft to land in Colombo to refuel on the way to Dhaka in East Pakistan during the military confrontation between Pakistan and India. It was a brave decision by Mrs Bandaranaike (Mrs B), and the successive governments and Sri Lanka people are still enjoying the fruits of it. Pakistan has been a steadfast and loyal supporter of our country. They have come to our assistance time and again in times of great need when many have turned their back on us. They have indeed been an “all-weather” friend of our country.
Getting back to 1972, I was an early beneficiary of Pakistani people’s love for Sri Lankans. I failed the entrance exam to gain entry to the only English medium school in Islamabad! However, when I met the Principal, along with my father, he said, “Sanjeewa, although you failed the entrance exam, I will this time make an exception as Sri Lankans are our dear friends.” After that, the joke around the family dinner table was that I owed my education in Pakistan to Mrs B!
At school, my brother and I were extended a warm welcome and always greeted “our good friends from Sri Lanka.” I felt when playing cricket for our college; our runs were cheered more loudly than of others.
One particular incident that I remember well was when the Embassy received a telex from the Foreign inistry. It requested that our High Commissioner seek an immediate meeting with the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mr Zulifikar Ali Bhutto (ZB), and convey a message from Mrs B. The message requested that an urgent shipment of rice be dispatched to Sri Lanka as there would be an imminent rice shortage. As the Ambassador was not in the station, the responsibility devolved on my father.
It usually takes about a week or more to get an audience with the Prime Minister (PM) of a foreign country due to their busy schedule. However, given the urgency, my father spoke to the Foreign Ministry’s Permanent Sectary, who fortunately was our neighbour and sought an urgent appointment. My father received a call from the PM’s secretary around 10 P.M asking him to come over to the PM’s residence. My father met ZB around midnight. ZB was about to retire to bed and, as such, was in his pyjamas and gown enjoying a cigar! He had greeted my father and had asked, “Mr Jayaweera, what can we do for great friend Madam Bandaranaike?. My father conveyed the message from Colombo and quietly mentioned that there would be riots in the country if there is no rice!
ZB had immediately got the Food Commissioner of Pakistan on the line and said, “I want a shipload of rice to be in Colombo within the next 72 hours!” The Food Commissioner reverted within a few minutes, saying that nothing was available and the last export shipment had left the port only a few hours ago to another country. ZB had instructed to turn the ship around and send it to Colombo. This despite protests from the Food Commissioner about terms and conditions of the Letter of Credit prohibiting non-delivery. Sri Lanka got its delivery of rice!
The next was the visit of Mrs B to Pakistan. On arrival in Rawalpindi airport, she was given a hero’s welcome, which Pakistan had previously only offered to President Gaddafi of Libya, who financially backed Pakistan with his oil money. That day, I missed school and accompanied my parents to the airport. On our way, we witnessed thousands of people had gathered by the roadside to welcome Mrs B.
When we walked to the airport’s tarmac, thousands of people were standing in temporary stands waving Sri Lanka and Pakistan flags and chanting “Sri Lanka Pakistan Zindabad.” The noise emanating from the crowd was as loud and passionate as the cheering that the Pakistani cricket team received during a test match. It was electric!
I believe she was only the second head of state given the privilege of addressing both assemblies of Parliament. The other being Gaddafi. There was genuine affection from Mrs B amongst the people of Pakistan.
I always remember the indefatigable efforts of Mr Abdul Haffez Kardar, a cabinet minister and the President of the Pakistan Cricket Board. From around 1973 onwards, he passionately championed Sri Lanka’s cause to be admitted as a full member of the International Cricket Council (ICC) and granted test status. Every year, he would propose at the ICC’s annual meeting, but England and Australia’s veto kept us out until 1981.
I always felt that our Cricket Board made a mistake by not inviting Pakistan to play our inaugural test match. We should have appreciated Mr Kardar and Pakistan’s efforts. In 1974 the Pakistan board invited our team for a tour involving three test matches and a few first-class games. Most of those who played in our first test match was part of that tour, and no doubt gained significant exposure playing against a highly talented Pakistani team.
Several Pakistani greats were part of the Pakistan and India team that played a match soon after the Central Bank bomb in Colombo to prove that it was safe to play cricket in Colombo. It was a magnificent gesture by both Pakistan and India. Our greatest cricket triumph was in Pakistan when we won the World Cup in 1996. I am sure the players and those who watched the match on TV will remember the passionate support our team received that night from the Pakistani crowd. It was like playing at home!
I also recall reading about how the Pakistani government air freighted several Multi Barrell artillery guns and ammunition to Sri Lanka when the A rmy camp in Jaffna was under severe threat from the LTTE. This was even more important than the shipload of rice that ZB sent. This was crucial as most other countries refused to sell arms to our country during the war.
Time and again, Pakistan has steadfastly supported our country’s cause at the UNHCR. No doubt this year, too, their diplomats will work tirelessly to assist our country.
We extend a warm welcome to Mr Imran Khan, the Prime Minister of Pakistan. He is a truly inspirational individual who was undoubtedly an excellent cricketer. Since retirement from cricket, he has decided to get involved in politics, and after several years of patiently building up his support base, he won the last parliamentary elections. I hope that just as much as he galvanized Sri Lankan cricketers, his political journey would act as a catalyst for people like Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene to get involved in politics. Cricket has been called a “gentleman’s game.” Whilst politics is far from it!.
Author
Believe me, seeing certain videos, on social media, depicting action, on the dance floor, at some of these entertainment venues, got me wondering whether this Coronavirus pandemic is REAL!
To those having a good time, at these particular venues, and, I guess, the management, as well, what the world is experiencing now doesn’t seem to be their concerned.
Obviously, such irresponsible behaviour could create more problems for those who are battling to halt the spread of Covid-19, and the new viriant of Covid, in our part of the world.
The videos, on display, on social media, show certain venues, packed to capacity – with hardly anyone wearing a mask, and social distancing…only a dream..
How can one think of social distancing while gyrating, on a dance floor, that is over crowded!
If this trend continues, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Coronavirus makes its presence felt…at such venues.
And, then, what happens to the entertainment scene, and those involved in this field, especially the musicians? No work, whatsoever!
Lots of countries have closed nightclubs, and venues, where people gather, in order to curtail the spread of this deadly virus that has already claimed the lives of thousands.
Thailand did it and the country is still having lots of restrictions, where entertainment is concerned, and that is probably the reason why Thailand has been able to control the spread of the Coronavirus.
With a population of over 69 million, they have had (so far), a little over 25,000 cases, and 83 deaths, while we, with a population of around 21 million, have over 80,000 cases, and more than 450 deaths.
I’m not saying we should do away with entertainment – totally – but we need to follow a format, connected with the ‘new normal,’ where masks and social distancing are mandatory requirements at these venues. And, dancing, I believe, should be banned, at least temporarily, as one can’t maintain the required social distance, while on the dance floor, especially after drinks.
Police spokesman DIG Ajith Rohana keeps emphasising, on TV, radio, and in the newspapers, the need to adhere to the health regulations, now in force, and that those who fail to do so would be penalised.
He has also stated that plainclothes officers would move around to apprehend such offenders.
Perhaps, he should instruct his officers to pay surprise visits to some of these entertainment venues.
He would certainly have more than a bus load of offenders to be whisked off for PCR/Rapid Antigen tests!
I need to quote what Dr. H.T. Wickremasinghe said in his article, published in The Island of Tuesday, February 16th, 2021:
“…let me conclude, while emphasising the need to continue our general public health measures, such as wearing masks, social distancing, and avoiding crowded gatherings, to reduce the risk of contact with an infected person.
“There is no science to beat common sense.”
But…do some of our folks have this thing called COMMON SENSE!
