SL Power Mix Shifts Toward Oil Amid Global Volatility 📈

Sri Lanka’s electricity generation saw a tactical shift toward high-cost thermal oil during the week ending 12 March, as declining hydropower and rising demand forced a heavier reliance on imported fuels. • Generation Mix Breakdown: Thermal Oil: Increased to 23.1% (up from 19.9% in late February). Hydropower: Declined to 23.2% (down from 25.1%). Coal: Remained the primary source at 30.4%. Solar & Wind: Contributed 20.8% and 1.9% respectively. • Demand & Output Trends: Peak demand hit 3,040 MW on 12 March, rising from 2,944 MW in February. Daily energy generation grew to 58.16 GWh. Oil-fired production jumped to 14.02 GWh per day, compared to the previous month’s range of 8.19–12.42 GWh. • Economic Context: The reliance on thermal fuel coincides with global crude prices surging above US$ 100 per barrel due to Middle East tensions. This shift increases pressure on Sri Lanka’s energy import bill and foreign exchange reserves, despite the buffer provided by coal and renewable energy sectors. _Data source: CBSL weekly indicators (Provisional)_