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Govt. to proceed with Upper Kotmale project

by Ranil Wijayapala

The Government, will proceed with the Upper Kotmale project.

This follows a Government policy decision to optimise hydro power resources.

Power and Energy Minister Karu Jayasuriya has had a discussion with the Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on Thursday regarding this policy decision.

The project is under initial stages and it will be commenced once those steps are completed, the Minister told a ceremony at Battaramulla regarding the connecting of 25 Kw solar power panel to the national grid.

According to Power and Energy Ministry engineering services for the project was completed in 1994. However, environmental clearance was received only in March 2000.

The Ministry has requested the Government of Japan to fund this project which is estimated to cost over 300 million US dollars.

According to engineering feasibility the proposed hydro power project will be set up in the upper stream of the Kotmale oya after constructing regulation pond at Thalawakele across Kotmale oya.

The regulation pond will be fed by eight water streams Devon Oya, St. Andrew Stream, Kuda Oya, Pundulu Oya, Puna Oya, Ramboda Oya, Dusiane Oya and Kotmale Oya.

The waters of this reservoir will pipe through 13 Km long tunnels to underground power house to operate two turbines 75 MW each (150 MW). The power station will feed the national grid by adding 534 million units of power annually.

The Minister addressing a ceremony at Pelawatta, Battaramulla said that the Ministry has given clearance for private sector companies to commence mini hydro power projects using the small water falls countrywide.

He said 45 more small water falls have also been identified with the potential of generating hydro power and the private sector companies will be permitted to set up mini hydro power plants using these water falls.

The Minister said such mini hydro projects will lessen the burden on the CEB in supplying electricity.

He said the ongoing Kukuleganga hydro power station will also be connected to the national grid within the next 24 months to increase the power generation capacity by 70 MW.

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