Govt weighs legal, technical options over controversial coal shipment

Energy Minister Anura Karunathilake says the Government is exploring legal and technical options over the controversial third coal shipment procured through an emergency procurement process, amid concerns raised over the quality of the coal cargo.

Addressing the media, the Minister said laboratory reports had confirmed that the coal shipment meets the required heat generation capacity, with tests showing thermal values ranging between 5,995 and 6,080.

However, he noted that tests conducted by international inspection firm Bureau Veritas had found the ash content in the shipment to be 0.6 percent above the permitted limit.

Karunathilake said authorities are currently examining whether the shipment can be legally rejected based on the higher ash percentage.

“At the same time, if we reject this shipment, there could be issues regarding uninterrupted electricity supply,” he said.

The Minister warned that any shortfall in coal supply would force Sri Lanka to rely on alternative thermal power sources to generate electricity.

He further explained that there is insufficient time to procure a new shipment, as the monsoon season is expected to begin around mid-June, preventing coal unloading operations until September.

Given the situation, the Minister said discussions are underway among relevant officials to determine the available options.

He said one possibility being considered is imposing a financial penalty on the supplier due to the increased ash content, while further legal advice and technical evaluations are being sought before deciding how much of the shipment should be accepted or withheld. (Newswire)

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