Power cut in Jaffna peninsula impact Jaffna education

[TamilNet, Sunday, 04 May 2008, 15:50 GMT]
The daily power cut from 6:00 p.m to 8:30 p.m in an alternating arrangement imposed on the entire Jaffna peninsula badly affects the education of the students in the peninsula who number more than 90,000, education officials in Jaffna said. The power cut will likely last 6 months to a year, and the woes of nearly 70,000 families affected by the cut is likely continue for these six months, Sri Lanka Electricity Board (SLEB) Jaffna office sources said.

Out of the 35 MW of electricity needed to meet the daily demand of the entire peninsula, only 25 MW of electricity is produced by two private firms and a SLEB generator point.

Private firm Agrico in Chu’n’naakam produces 15 MW of electricity per day while the other private firm Cool Air located in Kaangkeasanththu’rai generates 7 MW of electricity daily, SLEB sources in Jaffna said.

The SLEB electric plant in Chu’n’naakam supplies 3 MW of electricity daily making a total of 25 MW of electricity now supplied in Jaffna peninsula.

10 MW of additional electricity is, hence, needed to maintain an unbroken supply of electricity to the whole peninsula.

It would take from 6 months to one year to make available the entire electricity needs of the peninsula due to the insecure circumstances prevailing in the peninsula, the sources added.

Meanwhile, a private Chinese firm is in discussions to set up power source in Jaffna peninsula but so far generators or other accessories have not been brought into the peninsula by the firm, sources in Jaffna said.

Chronology: