Public Lecture and Open Discussion On,
By- Eng.(Prof). S.A.S Perera
DSc, BASc (ChEng&FSc), CEng, IntPE (SL), FIE (SL),AIChE (USA).Professor of Department of Chemical and Process Engineering.University of Moratuwa.
Abstract:
SriLanka is in dire straits, due to, huge foreign debts, low exports, high imports, shortage of foreign direct investments, high costs and low productivity in the agriculture sector, which has led to high food costs, high cost of living and inflation.
One of the main reasons for low productivity in agriculture is, severe shortage of water in agricultural areas and heavy dependence on rains. Moreover, high cost of thermal energy and electrical energy due to the use of high cost petroleum fuels, has hindered industrial growth.
The Ceylon Electricity Board, the main supplier of electricity in Sri Lanka, produces a major part of the demand and purchases the balance from private producers. According to the CEB Statistical Digest 2017 and other reliable sources, the average fuel cost incurred by CEB is, Diesel – Rs. 33.00/kWh, Fuel Oil – Rs. 19.00/kWh, Coal – Rs. 7.21/kWh. CEB purchases solar based electricity at around Rs. 23.00/kWh and wind based electricity at around Rs. 23.00/kWh. These figures clearly show that coal is the cheapest fuel for electricity generation.
Sea Water (SW) is the, cheapest, most abundantly available raw material in Sri Lanka. On an average, SW has 96.5% Water and 3.5% salts, comprising NaCl-2.73% and Other Salts-0.77%. Hence, SW is a veritable source of NaCl (Salt) and Water. Currently SW is only used to produce Salt by solar evaporation of SW in salterns in coastal areas, such as, Hambantota, Puttalam, Elephant Pass and Mannar. The average total Salt production of Sri Lanka is around 100,000 MT/Y while the current local demand is around 130,000 MT/Y. Hence, at present Sri Lanka imports around 30,000 MT per year. Large extents of land have to be used, since, the average Solar Salt production per acre per year is around 70MT Solar salt production is heavily weather dependent and during several years, production was below 50,000 MT/Y due to heavy rains.
Salt (NaCl) is an industrial raw material, used to produce a very large number of chemicals, such as, Caustic Soda, Chlorine, Hydrochloric acid, Sodium Carbonate, Sodium Bicarbonate, Bleaching Powder, Poly Vinyl chloride (PVC), etc. To establish an economically viable Salt Based Industry, Salt production should be increased, which, can only be done by evaporation of Brine using thermal energy obtained by coal combustion, since other fuels are very much more expensive. To produce Caustic Soda, a saturated brine solution has to be electrolysed, requiring around 2,500 kWh/MT. At the current price of aound Rs. 18/kWh, the cost of electricity Rs. 45,000 per MT, which will make it non-viable. If electricity is generated in the plant, using coal, the cost will be round Rs. 5/kWh and the cost of electricity will be only Rs. 12,500 per MT, making it viable. In addition, waste heat from the coal power plant can be used as thermal energy for brine evaporation.
The development strategy proposed is, to attract Foreign Direct Investments (FDAs) to establish several Coal Powered Electricity and Thermal Energy Based Sea Water Desalination Plants, Salt Production Plants, Salt Based Chemical Plants and other Salt Based Industries. These plants will produce water for agriculture and human consumption, Salt and Chemicals for local consumption and exports, thus, reducing imports, increasing exports and greatly developing agriculture and other industrial, social and economic development in Sri Lanka. The speaker will highlight the Engineering, Environmental, Health, Safety, Social and Economic aspects of the proposed strategy at the Lecture.
All are Welcome !!!
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