{"id":87103,"date":"2019-04-09T23:03:35","date_gmt":"2019-04-10T05:03:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/?p=87103"},"modified":"2019-04-09T16:00:27","modified_gmt":"2019-04-09T23:00:27","slug":"buying-power-from-multinationals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/2019\/04\/09\/buying-power-from-multinationals\/","title":{"rendered":"Buying Power from Multinationals"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Garvin Karunaratne<\/em><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n

Power Cuts to the extent of\n2 to 3 hours has been the order of the day and the news is just out that we are\nabout to buy 500MW of Power from three Multinationals Agrico, V Power included,\nour estimated excess requirements for the next 5 years..<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is also important is\nto note that we are due to buy power at 28 to 30 rupees a kv\/hr, when our\ncurrent rate is in the area of 24 rupees. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Compare this price with the\nrate at which the USA produces power- at 5 cents (US) a kw\/hr, which is around\nRs. 8.5.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why have we got into this\nplight of non having sufficient power. The immediate cause is that we have\nstopped the Sampur Coal Power Plant and all the sources we currently have\ncannot meet the demand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I have been an ardent\nadvocate of wind power ever since the day I gazed at the thousands of wind\nturbines at Altamont Pass, California turning out power. I stopped my Nissan\n300ZX  by the roadside and gazed for over\nfifteen minutes, because I could not believe my eyes. I was wondering why we\ndid not tap our mountain resource of wind power. At Altamont Pass the power of\nthe wind was nothing like at Madugoda or Ohia, or Ramboda- many vantage points\ncame to my mind- all places where I had \nbeen almost blown off on my eternal \ncircuits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I wrote, first to the LMD\nand the editor was kind enough to publish my Paper:” Candle in the\nWind”. That was long ago. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I wrote again and again and\nquestioned why Sri Lanka was always building the wind turbines on the coast and\nnot on the mountains, when every country to which I have happened to travel- to\nScotland, to England, to France, to Spain, to Portugal to the USA, to Canada-\neverywhere the authorities are building the wind turbines in the mountains and\nnever at the coast<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally my cry reached the\nears of Kananga, the engineer who put up the wind turbines at Hambantota. He\nsays that in Sri Lanka the environmentalists have declared that no wind\nturbines should be put up in the mountains. Instead they have to be on the\ncoast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I continued my crusade,\nsupported by  the editor of the Sunday Observer\nand by Noor Nizam,  and finally I have\nwritten a book- a compendium of my writings which is due to be published\nshortly- WIND POWER FOR SRI LANKA\u2019S POWER REQUIREMENTS..<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I enclose a few sections of\nmy conclusion and hope that this Paper will reach the higher portals for\nscrutiny.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

10.Conclusion<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am pleased to submit the\nPapers I have so far written on Wind Power as a source of Energy, in a booklet\nin the sheer hope that someday this will be read by one of our leaders who will\nbe convinced that Wind Power is the form of energy that Sri Lanka is blessed\nwith in abundance and will get going all out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I have  summarized the case for concentrating on wind\nturbines to produce power<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Firstly, the country will\nnot depend on the supply of coal and oil for power plants and the country can\nsave all the millions and billions  being\nspent today to import oil and coal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Secondly it will provide\nemployment for thousands in erecting the turbine towers, in establishing the\nwind turbines and in the manufacture of the turbine mechanism itself at the\nlater stages. In my travels in France, Spain and Portugal I have seen workers\nmaking  the towers, blades, transporting\nthem in long trucks, erecting the towers and maintaining them. That is no\ndifficult task for our engineers and workers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 One of my readers happened to be an engineer,\nMr Kanaga. who was involved with establishing the five wind turbines at\nHambantota, the first to be built in Sri lanka. What is most interesting in his\ncomment which I have totally enclosed in this book, is that the  environmental lobby had decided that the\nturbines should only be erected on the coasts and not in the mountains where\nthere is ample wind force.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kanaga, that engineer\nsupports my recommendation that  we\nshould use the wind in our mountain area to provide the energy we need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To my mind it is a crime\nnot to use the wind power available and to spend millions and billions to\npurchase oil and coal.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many opine that wind is\nundependable.  To them my answer is that\nthe wind is an utterly dependable source of energy. Spain has gone all out to\nbuild wind turbines and even sells power to France.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A reader of my Papers,\nSusantha Wijeytileke has even commented that once at Madugoda he saw a cyclist\nbeing blown off the road by the power of the wind. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I must mention that I am\nnot alone in advocating the siting of wind turbines in the mountainous areas of\nSri Lanka. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Windfair, on line  editorial journalist  Trevor Sievert  quotes Lakshman Guruswamy, Sri Lanka has the\npotential to generate 24,000 MW electricity from wind.\u201d (http:\/\/w3.windfair.net\/wind-energy\/news\/1q543-sri-lanka-high-wind-energy-potential<\/a>)\nProfessor Guruswamy further states that studies have shown that nearly 5000\nsquare KM of windy areas are available for potential wind power generation in\nSri  Lanka.\u201d (Dated 12\/04\/2018.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In  www.windpower.lk<\/a>,\nit is stated that in wind power the potential for Sri Lanka  is 20,740MW\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wind\nPower in Sri Lanka,a publication by The Asia\nBusiness Office (\/\/www.asiabiomass.jp\/English\/topics\/1601_04.html) states that\nthe wind potential in Sri Lanka is 20,740 MW. In  its words there is strong potential for\nwind power in the North Western coastal regions of Northern Province, the\nhighland areas of the Central Province, Sabaragamuwa and Uva.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This Study  states that the windy land   can provide 50,000 MW.\u201d<\/em>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

My thanks are also due to\nthe Editor of the Sunday Observer.lk who in Let there be Light” (Sunday\nObserver:06\/09\/2009) commented that my suggestions are very valuable. Referring\ntro my suggestion that the wind power in the Central Highlands should be harnessed\nsays, This is a timely and valid proposal and the authorities should\ntake  appropriate action to locate wind\nturbines in  areas which will enable them\nto reach their maximum potential.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am also thankful for Noor\nNizam for his Wind Energy Electricity generation is a reality\u201d (Sri Lanka\nGuardian:27\/08\/2009)  In his words, \nGarvin should be commended for his boldness to take to task the lethargic and\nselfish bureaucrats on this issue of renewal energy development of electricity\nenergy in Sri Lanka\u2026. His message should be well taken  by others too handling  national planning and development\nstrategies  to assist the little island\nof 21 million to come out of the rut of poverty, misery, the destruction of the\ncivil war and the dependence on foreign powers<\/em>.\u201d  He adds in the affirmative, As Garvin\nKarunaratne  wishes Wind Energy\nElectricity Generation  will be a reality\nin Sri Lanka for the next generation\u201d.<\/em> \nIt is my fervent hope that this will be realized. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The contents of this book\nconvinces any sane thinking person that wind power can be harnessed. We have to\nlearn from mistakes, not make the mistakes rule us. As a country we have to\nfind ways and means of forging ahead, \nheedless.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This study proves  beyond\nall doubt that there is ample wind capacity in Sri Lanka for self sufficiency\nin our power requirements through harnessing the wind.. There is no question\nabout this.. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am dead certain that Sri Lanka can become self\nsufficient in all its power requirements not for its present stage but also for\nits future development through using wind power. The wind power in the Central\nand Sabaragamuwa Hills is vast. Methods and systems have to be found to harness\nthis energy. However as long as we build wind turbines on the coastal areas and\nignore the areas where there is real wind power and satisfy ourselves with\nstudies of the difficulties and constraints, \nour attempt will be like  that of\na squirrel trying to empty the water in the ocean , carrying a bit of water on\nits tail,  endless.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let us try to look at our situation today. We\nare short of around 500 MW and we are purchasing it from Power Suply\nMultinationals and that at a staggering high cost of Rs 28 to Rs 30 per kw\/hr.\nIn short we are unable to avoid the power cuts totally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am of the firm opinion that Sri Lanka can\nbecome self sufficient in all its requirements of power through erecting a few\nhundred wind turbines in our hill country. Working in the Administrative\nService my home was in the hills at Nuwara Eliya, at Kandy, at Kegalla, at\nRatnapura, at Matara(including Sinharaja) and for the full eighteen years I\nworked my traveling claim on circuits equalled or at times surpassed my\nsalary.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am aware that some foreign experts have ruled\nthat the coastal areas in Puttlam are ideal. The foreigners would have seen\nPuttlam. I am dead certain. Why were they not housed in the Forest Circuit\nBungalow at Ohia. My take is these days even the prestigious IMF clandestinely\nmade President Jayawardena and Minister Ronnie de Mel accept the neoliberal development\nmodel of Milton Friedman and we all fell a prey resulting in Sri Lanka becoming\nindebted. Anyone doubting can read my book: How the IMF Sabotaged Third World\nDevelopmenmt(Godages\/Kindle).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even if our leaders decide to go ahead with\nSampoor, it will easily take four years and a massive loan, which we have to\npay back. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instead, let me recommend that our leaders\ndecide to put up a few hundred wind turbines in our hills, instead of building\nthem on the coast trying to fool our leaders that wind pohey have actually\nbecome steamrollerwer does not work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let me make a suggestion. On my recent visit to\nworship the Avukana Buddha statue I saw thin tall concrete pillars made by our\nState Engineering Corporation holding the canopy.  Let us find the engineers who designed it and\nthe unit that made it and ask them to design and make the wind turbines. I am\ncertain that they can do that task. Import the turbine mechanism and get them\ninstalled.  Let our Administrators who\nhave got blown off on circuit decide the sites. We have had administrators who\nknew no lunch intervals and no hours when they get activated. They become\nsteamrollers, urging ahead, unstoppable even facing the wrath of local\nMinisters who at best can get them an immediate transfer. They would pack their\nbags and move on to another assignment, yet moving as steamrollers. Our leaders\nhave to find them  and get them going.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If only our President will dare to get into the\nshoes of our great leader D.S. and get going in the manner DS directed the colonies\nand Gal Oya, and allow a few of us administrators to tackle this task it can be\ndone. In my days we did  similar tasks.\nWe can be self sufficient in all our Power requirements in a single year. I am\ndead certain about that. The foreign exchange needed to import the power sets\ncan easily be re couped within six months. The rest of the expenses is in local\nRupees- printed money. We will create employment for thousands and save foreign\nexchange in millions of dollars. We do not require any foreign exchange or\nforeign loans. Just buy the power sets with the dollars being used to buy coal\nand oil. That was how I secured an allocation of dollars to buy dyes for the\nCrayon Factory at Deniyaya in 1972. It was from the funds separated to import\ncrayons. Minister Illangaratne and Controller Harry Guneratne  saved foreign exchange by reducing the\nimports of crayons. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

These words come from a son of Sri Lanka who as the Commonwealth\nFund Advisor on Youth to the Ministry of Manpower in Bangaladesh did design and\nestablish the Youth Self Employment Programme of Bangladesh in two years-\nresulting in an ongoing programme which has guided over two million youths(upto\n2011) to become self employed. An entire Ministry of Youth spend 95% of itstime\nto find drop out children, train and motivate them to become entrepreneurs-\n160,000 a year>  It is easily the premier employment creation programme\nin the world today. That was a task which the ILO had failed to do in\nBangladesh in the earlier three years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is a far  easier task to\nget a few hundred wind turbines erected than to motivate and guide youths to\nbecome entrepreneurs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Garvin Karunaratne<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ph.D. Michigan State University. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

10 th April\n2019<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Garvin Karunaratne Power Cuts to the extent of 2 to 3 hours has been the order of the day and the news is just out that we are about to buy 500MW of Power from three Multinationals Agrico, V Power included, our estimated excess requirements for the next 5 years.. What is also important […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9,102,6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-87103","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-business","category-economy","category-politics"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/87103","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=87103"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/87103\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=87103"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=87103"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=87103"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}