Upper Kotmale to Complete by Year End. 150MW Electricity to National Grid from the Last Mega Hydro Power Project in Sri Lanka

27th January 2011, , www.news360.lk

79% of the construction work of the Upper Kotmale Hydro Power Project has been completed, says the Ministry of Power and Energy.

Accordingly the 1st phase of the project which will add 150 Mega Watts of electricity to the national grid will be fully completed by end this year.

Upper Kotmale which is the last such mega hydro power project to take place in Sri Lanka is located in the Nuwara Eliya district and will be using the water flowing from the Kotmale Oya, a branch of the Mahaweli River.

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.

Sri Lanka’s electricity demand is growing at 8% per Annum.

Related Info :
• Sri Lanka's Last Mega Hydro Power Project at Upper Kotmale to Compelete by 2011