Asia Hydropower to build US $ 18 m plant in Getambe

Hemanthi GURUGE

Asia Hydropower Generations (Pvt) Ltd has signed an agreement with the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka to set up the largest private sector mini hydropower plant in the country with an investment of US $ 18 million.

The proposed plant in Getambe

Asia Hydropower Generations CEO Rohan Wijesundara told Daily News Business that the mini hydropower plant would have a capacity to produce 10 megawatts of electricity.

The project aims to add this 10 mw to the national power grid from 2013.

The concentrated mini hydropower project has already commenced construction in Getambe in Kandy. The new construction will generate around 100 jobs during construction.

There are numerous benefits provided by hydropower over other energy sources. It doesn't produce air pollution or create toxic by-products like power plants that burn fossil fuels such as coal or natural gas.

Hydropower can meet changing demands because it can go from zero power to maximum output rapidly and predictably. Hydroelectric power stems from the process of using water's energy . It has a low operating cost once installed and can be highly automated.

"With steady economic growth, the demand for energy is of paramount importance especially for a developing country like Sri Lanka. The National Energy Policy and Strategies of Sri Lanka places renewable energy development as a high priority and considers it to be one among the nine main policy elements.

This policy paper which is now being reviewed is likely to further strengthen the policy focus on renewable energy development.

It is envisaged the present 10% level of renewable energy component of the electricity generation would increase upto 20% by 2015.