The construction work of the U
pper Kotmale Hydro power project, the last such mega hydro power plant to take place in Sri Lanka will see its completion by the 3rd quarter of 2011.Project Director Shavindranath Fernando told www.news360.lk “by the 3rd quarter of 2011, the project will be completed”
Once completed the plant will add 150 MW into the national grid, which according to energy specialist Dr. Tilak Siyambalapitiya will contribute 3.5% of the country’s total electricity requirement for the year 2012.
He said “By 2012 the total electricity requirement of the country will be 12,800 million units and if Upper Kotmale operates by that time, it will contribute 430 million units to the total figure”.
The UKHP is located in the Nuwara Eliya district and will be using the water flowing from the Kotmale Oya, a branch of the Mahaweli Ganga.
The US$ 450 JICA funded Upper Kotmale Hydro power project was in the drawing board since 1985 and was expected to be fully operational in the early parts of 2000.
However pressure from area politicians citing socio-economic and environmental issues delayed the project.
Project Director Fernando said ”all these issues are resolved”.
497 families who lost their homes owing to the project has being settled down in new homes.
Sri Lanka’s electricity demand is growing at 8% per annum.
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