Archives

Kukule project to be commissioned in September

by Rashomi Silva

The Kukule Ganga Hydro Power Station (KGHP) will be commissioned in September this year, Power and Energy Minister Karu Jayasuriya said on Saturday after an inspection tour of the project site.

The project will be completed in two stages. The first commissioning is expected to take place next month, with the final stage scheduled for completion in September, Minister Jayasuriya said. The KGHP begun in 1997 was far behind schedule due to improper planning, a senior official said. But with Minister Jayasuriya taking the helm of the Power and Energy sector he was able to expedite and streamline the project and to finalise it even before the target date. "The project was nearly two years behind schedule when I took over the Ministry," Minister Jayasuriya said. "But today with proper planning and with commitment and the dedication of the staff we have been able to complete the project a month ahead of schedule."

KGHP, the country's second underground power station, will add 320 GWH to the National Grid annually. It consists of two generators each with 35MW capacity. The electricity output of the project will be connected to the existing Matugama substation, he added.

The KGHP project was estimated to cost Rs 15 billion, the local component was met by the Ceylon Electricity Board while the foreign component of over Rs. 12 billion was provided by the Overseas Economic Co-operation Fund of Japan (JIBC) the projet official said. The Japanese government has granted this loan on very easy repayment terms.

There is a 10-year grace period. Located in the Kalutara and Agalawatte electorates, the Kukule river which is a tributary of Kalu ganga, has a catchment of 312 Sq.Km at the project site and an annual rainfall of 37.50mm.

Commenting on the environmental impact of the project, the official said: "Several plans were studied and the current option emerged as the least harmful one."

www.crescat.com

News | Business | Features | Editorial | Security
Politics | World | Letters | Sports | Obituaries |

Produced by Lake House
Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
Comments and suggestions to :Web Manager