Energy Minister Anura Karunathilaka has cautioned that El Niño weather patterns could affect electricity generation in late March and early April 2025, prompting the government to accelerate battery storage initiatives.

Sri Lanka faces potential disruptions to its electricity supply during late March and the first two weeks of April next year due to prevailing El Niño conditions, according to Energy Minister Anura Karunathilaka. The minister highlighted concerns about the impact of the weather phenomenon on power generation capacity during this period.

In response to the anticipated challenge, the government is implementing measures aimed at mitigating the effects on the national power supply. The primary strategy involves expanding the use of battery energy storage systems across the electricity network. Minister Karunathilaka stated that the first phase of this battery storage programme is scheduled to deliver 160 megawatts of additional capacity to the system before the end of this year.

The expansion of battery storage infrastructure is intended to provide the electricity system with greater resilience and flexibility. By increasing storage capacity, authorities aim to create a buffer that can supply power during periods when conventional generation methods may be compromised by weather-related factors. The government has indicated it is actively monitoring developments as Sri Lanka prepares for the projected weather impacts in 2025.