Energy Minister Anura Karunathilaka has assured the public that Sri Lanka will avoid power cuts this year, citing completed coal procurement tenders and increased hydropower generation from recent rainfall.
Sri Lanka's Energy Minister Anura Karunathilaka announced that the country's coal procurement process for the coming year has been completed, with new shipments expected to arrive from the first week of September. The minister stated that this secured supply will prevent power cuts across the nation.
The government has implemented a revised procurement system designed to minimize potential fraud. Under the new arrangement, the Lanka Coal Company will directly obtain inspection reports, removing intermediaries from the process. Officials say this change eliminates financial and quality-related risks associated with third-party involvement in coal transactions.
Beyond coal supplies, Sri Lanka has benefited from recent weather patterns that have strengthened its hydropower capacity. Heavy rainfall across the central highlands and other regions in August has replenished water reserves for electricity generation. According to the minister, sufficient water had accumulated by mid-August to generate 868 gigawatt-hours of hydropower, excluding output from the Randenigala Reservoir.
Currently, hydropower accounts for 48 percent of the country's total electricity generation. The minister's assurances about avoiding power shortages this year are based on the combined effect of these coal imports and heightened hydroelectric output. The government maintains that with both fuel and water resources secured, the nation's electricity supply remains stable.
