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Sri Lanka's drought, failure to raise power capacity force nationwide power cuts

Source(s): Thomson Reuters
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By Shihar Aneez, with additional reporting by Ranga Sirilal

Sri Lanka's state-run power firm has imposed daily power cuts for the first time in more than two years as a drought has slashed hydro-power output, highlighting the government's failure to build new power plants, officials said on Monday.

The drought has cut the hydro-power generation in half to 15 percent of the nation's total electricity production as the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) seeks to save water for household and irrigation requirements, the firm said.

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If the power cuts are extended for any length of time they could hurt Sri Lanka's already weak economy. Its GDP growth slowed to just 3.2 percent in 2018, the lowest in 17 years.

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In an indication of how severe the situation has become, a Power and Energy Ministry official said the government had on Friday started trying to produce artificial rain with the help of Thailand's Department of Royal Rainmaking and Agricultural Aviation - so far only a pilot project.

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Hazards Drought
Themes Water Disaster risk management Critical infrastructure
Country and region Sri Lanka
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