Since its opening, the Norochcholai Power plant had faced 12 breakdowns, a document tabled in Parliament, by Minister of Power and Energy Patali Champika Ranawaka. stated yesterday.

The latest break down was reported on August 08, the document tabled in response to a query raised by JVP Colombo District MP Sunil Handunetti, said.

Since February 2011, the Norochcholai Power plant added 1,851,333,000 kilowatt hours to the national grid. The cost incurred to generate a single unit of electricity from this plant was Rs 7.55. The unit cost of Kelanitissa Gas turbine 7 was at Rs 39.63 while Gas Turbine 5 cost was at Rs 61.47. Accordingly the cost of power generated at Norochcholai was very low, the document said. A special committee headed by Prof K. K. Y. W. Perera had been appointed to make recommendation to complete the shortcomings and to investigate whether the machinery breakdown was owing to a negligence on the part of CEB officials, the document said adding that future courses of action with regard to the Norochcholai Power Plant would be decided on the basis of its recommendations.

~ www.island.lk ~ By Saman Indrajith