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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Sri Lanka power cuts - wrong oil blamed | Sri Lanka power cuts - wrong oil blamed |
| (5 months later) | |
| Power cuts are still a regular occurrence in Sri Lanka | Power cuts are still a regular occurrence in Sri Lanka |
| A senior Sri Lankan official has blamed poor quality crude oil imports for the shutdown of a power plant, leading to extended blackouts. | A senior Sri Lankan official has blamed poor quality crude oil imports for the shutdown of a power plant, leading to extended blackouts. |
| Utilities regulator chief Janaka Ratnayake said the oil burnt in the furnaces had too much sulphur in it. | Utilities regulator chief Janaka Ratnayake said the oil burnt in the furnaces had too much sulphur in it. |
| But the country's energy minister has disputed the allegation. | But the country's energy minister has disputed the allegation. |
| Last week, Sri Lanka increased its daily power outage from 80 minutes to 140 minutes because of a drop in power generating capacity. | Last week, Sri Lanka increased its daily power outage from 80 minutes to 140 minutes because of a drop in power generating capacity. |
| "Sulphur content is too high in the furnace oil [fuel oil] which is not suitable for the current power plants and it's also not conforming with environmental standards," Mr Ratnayake, the head of the Public Utilities Commission, told the BBC. | "Sulphur content is too high in the furnace oil [fuel oil] which is not suitable for the current power plants and it's also not conforming with environmental standards," Mr Ratnayake, the head of the Public Utilities Commission, told the BBC. |
| "If you buy good quality crude oil for refineries, then this problem will not happen." | "If you buy good quality crude oil for refineries, then this problem will not happen." |
| Mr Ratnayake said about 10% of the country's electricity came from diesel and fuel oil power plants. The rest of the electricity is generated from hydro, renewable and coal-powered plants. | Mr Ratnayake said about 10% of the country's electricity came from diesel and fuel oil power plants. The rest of the electricity is generated from hydro, renewable and coal-powered plants. |
| But Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekara defended the crude oil import policy. | But Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekara defended the crude oil import policy. |
| In a tweet, he said Sri Lanka's state-run fuel retailer, Ceylon Petroleum Corporation, would respond legally to Mr Ratnayake's allegation. | In a tweet, he said Sri Lanka's state-run fuel retailer, Ceylon Petroleum Corporation, would respond legally to Mr Ratnayake's allegation. |
| According to Mr Wijesekara, the power cut was extended because of a breakdown at one of the hydro-power stations and insufficient funds for diesel and fuel oil. | According to Mr Wijesekara, the power cut was extended because of a breakdown at one of the hydro-power stations and insufficient funds for diesel and fuel oil. |
| CPC will respond legally to Chairman, PUCSL on the accusations on the quality of Crude Oil. CPC has adequate stocks of Diesel & Fuel Oil. Extended Power Cuts was requested by CEB due to breakdown at Lakshapana, insufficient funds at CEB for diesel & fuel oil & Hydro management. | CPC will respond legally to Chairman, PUCSL on the accusations on the quality of Crude Oil. CPC has adequate stocks of Diesel & Fuel Oil. Extended Power Cuts was requested by CEB due to breakdown at Lakshapana, insufficient funds at CEB for diesel & fuel oil & Hydro management. |
| The South Asian nation has been facing its worst financial crisis since its independence from Britain in 1948. It is struggling to find enough dollars to import fuel and food. | The South Asian nation has been facing its worst financial crisis since its independence from Britain in 1948. It is struggling to find enough dollars to import fuel and food. |
| The shortages led to months of anti-government protests and long queues outside petrol stations. | The shortages led to months of anti-government protests and long queues outside petrol stations. |
| In July, the unrest came to a head when President Gotabaya Rajapaksa was forced to flee the country and then resign after thousands of protesters stormed his official residence. | In July, the unrest came to a head when President Gotabaya Rajapaksa was forced to flee the country and then resign after thousands of protesters stormed his official residence. |
| Veteran politician Ranil Wickremesinghe was subsequently elected by MPs as president. | Veteran politician Ranil Wickremesinghe was subsequently elected by MPs as president. |
| Since then, the government has introduced a ration system for fuel using a QR code that has reduced the queues outside petrol stations. | Since then, the government has introduced a ration system for fuel using a QR code that has reduced the queues outside petrol stations. |
| Sri Lanka has reached a preliminary agreement with the International Monetary Fund for an emergency loan of $2.9bn (£2.7bn) and it expects the deal to be approved by the IMF board by the end of this year. | Sri Lanka has reached a preliminary agreement with the International Monetary Fund for an emergency loan of $2.9bn (£2.7bn) and it expects the deal to be approved by the IMF board by the end of this year. |
| But the conditions include Colombo reaching an agreement with its creditors on debt restructuring. Sri Lanka has about $50bn of external debt. | But the conditions include Colombo reaching an agreement with its creditors on debt restructuring. Sri Lanka has about $50bn of external debt. |
| Related Topics | |
| Oil | |
| Fuel | |
| Sri Lanka |