The inordinate delay in awarding the crucial 300MW LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) tender for the past one and half years has caused concern amongst industry players, who warned that the dragging of feet on this critical national issue could translate into power disruptions in time to come.
However, Power and Energy Ministry Secretary, Dr. Suren Batagoda assured that there won’t be any power cuts or shortages as a result of the delay in awarding the tender, which, he said, has been held up as there were “some issues relating to the eight prospective bidders that needs to be sorted out”.
“The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) is working round the clock to ensure there was no disruption in the power supply”, he said, while pointing out that the government has given its fullest support to avert a power crisis.
There were more than 80 tenders passed within a short period, but when it came to LNG, there were many issues from the eight prospective bidders, Batagoda told The Sunday Island.
Of the eight prospective bidders, five have already been shortlisted. The Korean industrial giant Samsung was not considered for the 300MW LNG power plant tender in Kerewalapitiya after queries were raised over claims that the company’s bid was the highest and would have resulted in a Rs. 220 billion loss to the country.