An emergency coal purchase has been planned to meet the coal requirements of the Norochcholai Lakvijaya Coal Power Plant. This emergency procurement will be carried out by the Lanka Coal Company in order to ensure uninterrupted electricity generation at the power plant.
It is reported that the coal stocks are expected to be imported into the country during March and April 2026. The Lanka Coal Company is currently taking the necessary steps on behalf of the Ceylon Electricity Board to carry out this purchase.
Opposition Members of Parliament, led by D. V. Chanaka, recently pointed out in Parliament that about eight recently purchased coal shipments were of poor quality and that the expected level of electricity generation could not be achieved by burning that coal. They had stated a few months ago that additional coal supplies might need to be imported under emergency purchases in order to generate the required amount of electricity.
It is reported that the purpose of this emergency purchase is to maintain the minimum required coal stocks at the power plant before the end of the annual coal supply season. Another objective is to produce additional electricity using coal if hydroelectric power generation is limited due to dry weather conditions.