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Throughout a media briefing held right now (04), Minister of Energy and Power – Kanchana Wijesekera, addressed accusations from numerous events relating to the electrical energy value revision.
He highlighted that in June’s value revision, the federal government supplied a major 55% reduction in electrical energy costs to three.5 million out of the entire 6 million customers.
Moreover, the minister emphasised that concessions had been granted to non secular institutions and industries in the course of the revision course of. Furthermore, he talked about the institution of a beneficial surroundings for initiating new renewable electrical energy tasks.
Minister Wijesekera made these statements throughout his participation in a media briefing held on the Presidential Media Centre underneath the theme of “Collective path to a secure nation.”
Relating to gas provide, the minister introduced that the primary gas cargo from one of many two corporations contracted by the Petroleum Company would arrive in Sri Lanka on the finish of the present month. This marks the start of gas distribution operations by the brand new suppliers.
Moreover, the minister expressed confidence within the authorities’s program, led by President Ranil Wickremesinghe, to advertise monetary stability in each the Electrical energy Board and the Petroleum Company. These entities he mentioned have undergone monetary crises however are actually on a path in the direction of attaining stability.
Addressing the press convention the minister mentioned;
Prior to now 12 months, our nation confronted challenges resembling gas queues and energy cuts. Nevertheless, underneath the selections made by the brand new authorities, important progress has been achieved in eliminating gas queues and guaranteeing steady electrical energy provide.
The revision of electrical energy costs occurred in January and June, benefiting round 6 million family customers. A 55 per cent value discount was carried out for about 3.5 million customers utilizing 30 to 60 items of electrical energy. Moreover, concessions had been supplied to the economic sector in the course of the value revision. There are roughly 40,000 registered spiritual shrines, and about 15,000 of them devour lower than 30 items of electrical energy.
The electrical energy board had been dealing with important monetary losses, with a complete lack of Rs. 409 billion up to now. Nevertheless, final 12 months’s loss was diminished to Rs. 167.2 billion. The federal government has efficiently accomplished all funds to suppliers and has created a beneficial surroundings for initiating new renewable electrical energy tasks. Moreover, steps have been taken to take away a Rs. 120 billion debt from the steadiness sheet of the Petroleum Company, ensuing within the electrical energy board’s improved monetary place.
With the strengthened monetary place, the electrical energy board plans to renew upkeep work and supply new connections that had been placed on maintain up to now three years. Out of the 36,000 new connection purposes acquired, 20,000 connections have already been accomplished, and efforts are underway to fulfil the remaining connections throughout the subsequent two months.
Moreover, the Petroleum Statutory Company has established contracts with two new companies for a constant provide of gas since September final 12 months. These companies are scheduled to start gas provide by the top of this month, and the primary gas cargo is predicted to reach in Sri Lanka on the similar time. Round 150 gas stations have been registered by these companies to date, guaranteeing dependable gas availability.
After the arrival of their ship in Sri Lanka, gas distribution was initially carried out underneath the identify of Ceypetco. Nevertheless, future distribution can be carried out underneath their very own firm identify. To deal with excellent money owed, together with these owed to Indian and Iranian collectors in addition to gas suppliers, the Ministry of Finance has imposed a tax of Rs.50 per liter of gas throughout distribution.
The Petroleum Company has efficiently repaid all loans owed to the Financial institution of Ceylon and the Individuals’s Financial institution, leading to its strengthened monetary place. Regardless of this, the restructuring means of the Petroleum Company will proceed as deliberate. The revised draft for the restructuring of the Electrical energy Board has been forwarded to legislators, and as soon as acquired, it is going to be submitted to the Legal professional Basic and subsequently offered to the Cupboard for suggestions. There’s a chance of passing a brand new act on this regard.
There isn’t a stress on the workers of the electrical energy board, and efforts are being made to confirm the standing of staff who’ve accomplished NVQ programs however are at the moment unemployed.
Authorized actions are being taken towards gas stations that failed to keep up oil shares in the course of the gas value revision. One such station, the Rajagiriya petrol station, has already been taken over by the federal government. Complaints have been acquired relating to 120 gas filling stations that didn’t adjust to inventory upkeep necessities throughout gas value revisions, and future plans contain implementing applicable authorized measures.
The choice has been made to not rent new staff, as the present variety of staff within the Ministry and its related establishments is deemed enough. The President, together with the Prime Minister and the federal government, has deliberate to reinforce the effectiveness and effectivity of presidency establishments primarily based on collective choices.
Traders who beforehand submitted tenders for renewable power haven’t but responded. It has been found that among the organizations that had been awarded tenders have bought them to different entities. Because of this, the tender name for 500 megawatts of renewable power is predicted to be cancelled within the upcoming cupboard assembly, and a contemporary tender name can be issued. Moreover, the mandatory permissions have been granted to the ‘Adani’ firm for the development of a 500 MW renewable power energy plant. Their power era is projected to be built-in into the nationwide grid by December of subsequent 12 months.
Whereas nearly all of staff from these establishments have expressed their need for the restructuring of the Petroleum Company and the Electrical energy Board, some protests have emerged attributable to considerations relating to potential lack of commerce union privileges. Nevertheless, granting wage increments and bonuses to loss-making organizations just isn’t deemed acceptable. Such practices are usually not prevalent in any nation worldwide. A 25% wage improve each three years for the 24,000 staff of the Electrical energy Board has been discontinued.
Wage increments are allotted completely to staff who’re actively working and reveal productiveness. It’s a widespread observe worldwide to supply wage increments selectively somewhat than uniformly throughout a company. Equally, bonuses distributed in April and December are contingent upon the corporate’s profitability and are awarded solely to staff who contribute successfully.
In collaboration with Indian mortgage help, plans are underway to equip authorities establishments and non secular websites with photo voltaic panels. Every spiritual place can be supplied with a 5 kilowatt photo voltaic panel, whereas authorities establishments will obtain photo voltaic panels appropriate for his or her roof sizes. The implementation of this mission is scheduled to start throughout the subsequent two months.
Consideration has additionally been directed in the direction of exploring nuclear power choices, with plans to include it into the 2023-2042 era plan. A complete analysis will decide the suitability and viability of nuclear power for our nation, and subsequent choices can be made accordingly.
(President’s Media Division)
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