Nationwide power outage hits Sri Lanka, leaving millions without electricity as a mischievous monkey enters a power station and causes a grid imbalance.
A nationwide blackout has struck Sri Lanka, with the energy minister attributing the cause to a mischievous monkey that entered a power station south of Colombo. ‘The incident occurred on Sunday at approximately 11:00 local time (05:30 GMT), leaving millions without electricity.’
A severe power crisis hit Sri Lanka in April 2022, resulting in a nationwide blackout.
The country's electricity grid was severely strained due to a combination of factors, including a drought that reduced hydroelectric power generation and a shortage of coal for thermal power plants.
The crisis led to widespread load shedding, affecting essential services like hospitals and water treatment plants.
According to the Sri Lankan government, over 90% of the country's electricity came from private sector providers, which were unable to meet demand due to fuel shortages.
“The blackout highlighted the need for a more sustainable energy mix in Sri Lanka.”
The monkey came into contact with the grid transformer, resulting in an imbalance in the system. This has led to a total failure of the substation in Colombo, causing widespread blackouts across the island nation.
According to Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody, the ‘monkey came into contact with the grid transformer, resulting in an imbalance in the system.’ This has led to a total failure of the substation in Colombo, causing widespread blackouts across the island nation. The minister’s statement acknowledges that it may take several hours for power to be fully restored.
The incident has sparked a mix of reactions on social media, ranging from humor to criticism. Users have taken to platforms like X to share their thoughts, with some making light of the situation while others express frustration at the authorities’ handling of the crisis. One user quipped that ‘one monkey = total chaos,’ suggesting that it’s time for Sri Lanka to rethink its infrastructure.
The incident has shed light on the underlying issues plaguing Sri Lanka’s power grid. Engineers have been warning consecutive governments about the need to upgrade the national power grid, citing frequent blackouts as a potential consequence of not addressing the issue. A senior engineer was quoted in a report by local newspaper Daily Mirror saying that the national power grid is ‘in such a weakened state’ and that even a minor disturbance can cause widespread outages.
Sri Lanka's power grid has been plagued by frequent outages and disruptions, affecting millions of residents.
The main cause is the country's rapidly increasing energy demand, which exceeds its generation capacity.
According to the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka, electricity demand has grown by 10% annually since 2015.
To meet this demand, the government has invested in renewable energy sources like 'wind and solar power'.
However, infrastructure development and maintenance remain significant challenges.
The country's aging grid infrastructure and lack of backup systems exacerbate the issue.
Sri Lanka has been experiencing an economic crisis, which has led to widespread blackouts in 2022. The country’s struggles with poverty, inflation, and debt have left its citizens facing daily hardships. The power cut is just another example of the economic woes plaguing Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka's economy has been plagued by a severe crisis since mid-2022, triggered by a combination of factors including a balance of payments crisis, inflation, and a shortage of foreign exchange reserves.
The country's debt burden has increased significantly, with external debt exceeding $50 billion.
Inflation rates have soared to over 20%, while the rupee has depreciated sharply against major currencies.
The government has implemented several austerity measures, including price controls and fuel subsidies, but their effectiveness remains uncertain.
- bbc.com | Sri Lanka hit by nationwide power cut
