Geothermal reservoir in Sri Lanka

Geothermal energy for growing power demand:

Disna Mudalige and Nadeesha Warnasuriya

The potential of buried geothermal energy in Sri Lanka and the feasibility for developing geothermal energy as a source of power generation must be given a serious thought, said Institute of Fundamental Studies Director Prof. C.B. Dissanayake.

Addressing the commemorative program organized by the National Research Council (NRC) of Sri Lanka at the Hilton Hotel on November 10 to mark its ten years of service to the nation and its scientific community, he said that a potential geothermal belt running from Hambantota to north of Trincomalee is discovered and there are about ten identified thermal (hot water) springs situated along this line.

"Even though, Sri Lanka is not located in an active volcanic ground unlike the vast majority of the countries that utilize geothermal energy, there are indications that a sufficient reservoir of geothermal energy exists at low enthalpy. This belt extends for over 300km and runs through some of the most underdeveloped regions of the country, and still can be utilized for national development," he noted. He pointed out that, Sri Lanka has a major challenge ahead in its search for alternate fuels with the ever growing demand for power and energy sources, and research into other forms of energy has long been overdue. "Environmental concerns have always impeded the utilization of many fuels, and geothermal energy has minimum negative environmental impacts," he explained.

He also stressed the need to work for a geothermal resource map as a research priority and added that Sri Lanka must first find and locate its natural resources.