By: Staff Writer
January 12, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka is grappling with growing controversy over coal imports for the Lakvijaya (Norochcholai) Power Plant, as concerns mount over quality, efficiency, and financial losses. Sealed samples from a recently unloaded 60,000 metric tons (MT) of coal shipped from South Africa by the country’s newest Indian supplier have been sent to India’s Cotecna, an internationally accredited testing, inspection, and certification services provider, the Lanka Coal Company (LCC) confirmed.
LCC General Manager Namal Hewage said that the samples were dispatched with the consent of Norochcholai power plant specialists and collected in the presence of plant officials. “Coal testing is not like finished product testing, as coal is a natural resource. A single sample test cannot rule out quality issues,” Hewage emphasized. He added that comprehensive tests are essential, with multiple samples examined before conclusions are drawn. Results from Cotecna are expected shortly.
Despite concerns over the first shipment, a second consignment of 60,000 MT has already been unloaded, with sources indicating it is of better quality than the initial consignment. Officials explained that tests are conducted on all newly received coal stocks before they are used for power generation, regardless of remaining reserves from previous suppliers.
The controversy began when the Load Port Certificate for the first shipment indicated a low calorific value, raising fears of reduced operational efficiency and financial losses. Preliminary plant tests showed calorific values ranging from 5,430 to 5,760 kcal/kg, below the contractually required range of 5,900–6,150 kcal/kg. Sources from the Ceylon Electricity Board estimated that 117 MT of the new coal would generate only around 285 MWh of electricity, compared to 300 MWh from 107–109 MT of prior Russian coal, signaling a potential decline in efficiency. Opposition MP D.V. Chanaka claimed that the loss from low-quality coal could amount to Rs. 10 billion.
In response, Minister of Energy Kumara Jayakody stated that the coal was procured according to tender conditions but noted that certain loading standards had not been fully met. Consequently, the LCC has withheld 80% of the payment for the first shipment until all contractual requirements are verified through an accredited laboratory. The Minister stressed that no supplier or party could bypass official procedures and that all coal shipment reports would be reviewed strictly according to contractual and regulatory standards.
The LCC finalized long-term coal procurement late last year, contracting suppliers to deliver 25 consignments. The process includes rigorous technical and contractual safeguards, including penalties for coal supplied outside specified calorific and moisture limits.
As the government awaits the final test results from Cotecna, the unfolding situation highlights the delicate balance between energy security, operational efficiency, and accountability in Sri Lanka’s power sector. Analysts note that the outcome will have implications not only for immediate electricity generation but also for broader fiscal responsibility and public trust in the energy procurement system.
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