World · Sri Lanka Bureau
Sri Lanka faces potential power cuts as El Niño threatens water supplies
The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka has cautioned that electricity shortages may emerge due to reduced rainfall expected from El Niño weather patterns. The warning highlights growing concerns over hydropower generation capacity amid declining reservoir levels.
LSN Sri Lanka ·
Sri Lanka's power regulator has signalled alarm over the prospect of electricity supply disruptions as El Niño conditions threaten to suppress rainfall across the island, potentially undermining hydroelectric generation.
The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) noted that the anticipated dry conditions associated with El Niño could significantly constrain water availability at major reservoirs that feed the country's hydropower facilities. Given Sri Lanka's heavy reliance on hydroelectric sources for electricity generation, any substantial reduction in water inflows would directly impact the nation's capacity to meet power demand.
The warning comes at a time when Sri Lanka's energy sector remains under pressure following recent blackouts and load-shedding episodes. The PUCSL indicated that power supply management may become increasingly challenging should rainfall patterns deteriorate as forecast.
Authorities are reportedly reviewing contingency measures to mitigate potential shortages, though specifics of such plans have not been disclosed. The commission is expected to provide updated guidance as meteorological conditions develop and clearer projections on El Niño's impact on the island become available.