Let us not repeat mistakes of the past-

Towards a Visionary National Energy

Policy:

by Parakrama Jayasinghe-April 17,

2017,
 It appears that history is repeating itself. The
National Energy Policy, which was drafted in 2005 and finally
approved in 2006 is to be revised. This is not the first time this
promise is made considering the most lopsided energy policy
pushed down the throats of the citizens in Sri Lanka. But
unfortunately history is repeating itself by adopting the same
procedure of drafting a policy with no stake holder consultation
and then giving a short notice asking for comments, which will
then be used to pretend that there has been stake holder
consultations.

The current procedure adopted is bound to repeat the mistake

done in 2006 in formulating the current National Energy Policy
purported to be the governing policy document. The
unacceptability and the many lapses in the current policy have
been pointed out and the need for its revision with a more
appropriate document is not in doubt.

However, the faults of the current policy document emanates

from the fact that it was formulated by a few individuals with their
own interpretations of the national requirements, without any
stake holder consultation and none of the objections raised had
been given any consideration and the original document was
bulldozed to be approved by the Parliament. Sri Lanka has
suffered over the past decade or more due to the terms of this
document being used by interested parties to promote their own
agendas. Continuous agitation resulted in the stake holder
consultations initiated by The Ministry of Power and Energy in
2011/12.

We were most pleased with this process as the consultations

were, conducted before a new policy document was formulated,
which should be the correct procedure on such an important
policy, where all the citizens of the country are the true
stakeholders.

We regret to note that this initiative made about four years ago,
has fizzled out and the draft policy document was never
published.

Judging from the strategies listed in the new draft policy, the hand
of those who concocted the 2006 Policy document are clearly to
be seen. They even blatantly ignore the Sri Lankas international
commitments both in relation to the Sustainable Development
Goals and the NDC issued after the Paris Accord. The clear
statements made by the H E The President and the Prime Minister
as well as the Deputy Minister of Power and Renewable Energy
that there shall be no more coal power plants in Sri Lanka are
clearly not given any credence.

Therefore it is our earnest request to hold proper stakeholder

consultations at least now, rather than trying to force down a
policy document put together by a few individuals however
qualified and experienced they might be. The true stakeholder in
the general public and their views have to be solicited before
even the elements which go in to the policy document are
finalized. Having waited ten years for the promised revision of the
National Energy Policy, taking a few more months or even a year
to obtain the correct stakeholder views and to incorporate the
principles of other national policies is certainly justified.

Thus coordination with other state agencies responsible for the

other forms of energy is imperative. We reiterate that this correct
procedure was adopted in the consultation process spear headed
by your Deputy Secretary Mr Uplai Deranagama during the
consultative process in 2011, and the experience gained and the
valuable data collected could be usefully adopted in a correct and
acceptable process to develop the much needed National Energy
Policy.

Taking special note of the significant changes which have

occurred both in Sri Lanka and in the world, such as the drastic
drop in cost of Solar and Wind Power technologies and the
international accords in respect of the dangers of climate change
and Sustainable Development Goals is imperative. Such updated
draft policy can be submitted for broader public comments prior
to finalization.

Existing National Policies and Decisions on Policy formulation

A number of policies already in place and other decisions are

important to be recognized at this juncture.

Proposals have also been made to develop policies related to

energy including the National Action Plan for Haritha Lanka
Programme prepared by the National Council for Sustainable
Development in 2009 which set time targets for implementing
policy initiatives on certain aspects of energy under its Chapters
on Clean Air, Climate Change and Industries;

Sri Lanka Energy Sector Development Plan for a Knowledge-based

Economy, 2015-2025 issued by the Ministry of Power and Energy
in 2015

The policy document, "Operation DSM: National Energy

Management Action Plan" 2016-2020 issued by the SLSEA in May,
2016.
Division of functions among Ministries

Under the division of functions assigned to ministries by the

Extraordinary Gazette No. 1933/13 dated 21.09.2015, the Ministry
of Power and Renewable Energy (M/P&RE) has been assigned the
task of formulation of policies in regard to the subjects of power
and renewable energy only.

The same gazette notification has assigned the Ministry of

National Policies & Economic Affairs (M/NPEA) the task of
formulation of national policies to fulfill sustainable development
targets, which covers every socio-economic sector including
energy.

Hence, a more appropriate body for the formulation of a National

Policy on Energy would be the M/NPEA. However, this task needs
to be carried out in concurrence with all line ministries having a
stake on energy, considering the fact that energy embraces all
socio-economic sectors coming under the purview of several
ministries.

The Essential Policy Elements

1. Energy is not limited to electricity.

In fact electricity occupies only a minor fraction of the national

energy pie, of less than 10% No doubt electricity is the most
preferred and the highest form of energy .The policy document
must formulate goals and targets and strategies to address all
form of energy viz.
Electricity for domestic, commercial, industrial use.

Thermal energy for industrial use.

Thermal energy for domestic and commercial use.

Transport fuel.

Any policy which does not consider all these segments of energy
use is bound to subject the country to difficulties in managing the
future energy scenario.

2. A long Term Perspective

The main reason why National Energy Policy is required is to

provide a frame work on which, the particular actions by both the
state agencies and other stake holders are planned properly in
order that such actions are focused and directed in line with the
policy which is in the greater national interest.

Sri Lanka has been subjected to such disastrous short sighted

decision making, examples of which are many. In particular Sri
Lanka should be ashamed to have allowed the 95% contribution
to electricity by indigenous renewable sources in 1995 to
deteriorate down to a mere 35% now. This is being further eroded
with the current policies.
This consideration behoves the policy formulation to be done all
the more carefully, with a long term perspective. While it may be
impossible to predict the future with 100% accuracy, there is no
reason why the emerging trends and the multitude of information
and data available from a variety of sources, should not be used
as a guide. In Particular the great impact that Demand Side
Management and improved efficiency of energy usage deserves
to be factored in. The diminishing energy intensity already clearly
seen in the Developed Countries and beginning to be seen in the
developing world as well are well documented. Sufficient work has
already been done by the Sustainable Energy Authority to high
light Sri Lankas potential in this direction.

3. National Energy Security

This is an aspect which receives scant attention in Sri Lanka, due

to the inability to appreciate the importance of retaining control
over the sources of energy in a country. Thus maintaining a
stance of non dependence on sources of energy for Sri Lanka is of
the utmost importance.

4. Issues of Environment and Health

The fact that energy generation has environmental impacts to

greater or lesser degree depending on the resources and
technologies adopted is well known. Any new energy policy must
give adequate attention and weightage to this aspect. The world
has taken careful note of this and is moving away from the use of
fossil fuels.

5. Available Sources of Energy

The most important ingredient of a National Energy Policy is the
review of the available sources of energy, not for the next year or
even the next ten years, but for a much longer time span, due to
the long time lag and the difficulties of reversing any trends
within a short time span.

Sri Lanka is blessed with ample resources of indigenous energy

potential, which have the double advantage of being renewable
and carbon neutral, waiting to be exploited.

6. Linkages to other segments of the Economy and Livelihoods

The development of the energy resources as well as the energy

industry can be important economic activities for the country. The
dependence on imported energy for the majority of the energy, is
the cause for overlooking this important factor.

7. The Cost of Energy Resources and Foreign Exchange

Requirements

Sri Lanka depends on imports for many basic needs and in recent
times the import of fossil fuels have eaten up a major proportion
of our export earnings. As such the choices made for the future
must not aggravate this situation any further.

8. Congruence with other national policies.

However important a role is played by the energy sector, no

policy can stand in isolation without due regard to other national
policies already adopted. Sri Lanka has ratified the SDGs of the
United Nations in 2015 and have ratified the Paris Agreement on
Climate Change in 2016. In addition successive governments
have adopted policies leading to a sustainable green economy..

It is most important to recognize the bounty that nature endowed

on Sri Lanka by way abundant sources of renewable energy. While
this is well enshrined in the above development plan, and the
government policies towards a sustainable development
paradigm, it will be unfortunate indeed if the lack of vision or the
incompetence of those vested with the responsibility of charting
our energy future tries to trap the country in to unsustainable cul
de sacs.

A more detailed version of these thoughts "An Appropriate and

Visionary National Energy Policy. can be viewed on
www.bioenergysrilanka.com

(The writer is an engineer by profession. He can be contacted at

parajayasinghe@gmail.com)
Posted by Thavam