Diesel replacement costs up to Rs. 4.5 bn in April

A sharp decline in coal-fired electricity generation in April 2026, compared to the corresponding month last year, may have cost Sri Lanka more than Rs. 4.5 billion, as the country was compelled to rely on significantly more expensive diesel-powered generation to make up the shortfall, according to power sector data.

- By IFHAM NIZAM

• Coal power generation falls by 27 GWh

The coal-based electricity generation, in April 2026, was 27 GWh lower than in April 2025, a development that has sparked concern among energy experts and economists over the mounting financial burden on the country's already strained power sector.

Industry calculations reveal that generating the lost 27 GWh through diesel-fired power plants would require approximately 8.1 million litres of fuel, based on a standard consumption rate of 0.3 litres per kilowatt-hour.

With fuel costs estimated at around USD 286 per barrel, or roughly USD 1.80 per litre, the replacement power would have cost approximately USD 14.57 million. At the prevailing exchange rate of about Rs. 315 to the US dollar, the bill exceeds Rs. 4.5 billion for April alone.