Expat physicist and British scientist lead cutting - edge research

Aim to investigate potential for geothermal energy in Sri Lanka:

by Frank PERERA

According to a distinguished group of foreign and local experts, the hot springs of Sri Lanka’s East may have to offer than just a refreshing bath.

A British team of researchers hit the ground-running this week, as they were whisked away from Bandaranaike International Airport straight into the jungles and fields of Eastern Sri Lanka.

They have already began participating in a project that may reap significant gains in the scientific and energy sectors of the island in the area of geothermal energy.

British scientist Dr. Bruce Allen Hobbs of the University of Edinburgh UK and Canadian-Sri Lankan geophysicist Dr. G. Morre Fonseka, formarly of the Open University of Sri Lanka are presently leading the team of foreign and local experts in a quest to gain knowledge of tectonic activity in the region and to determine the location and full potential of existing hot springs that span from Mullativu to Sooriyawewa/

The program aims to locate any large accumulations of thermal waters and hot dry rock using a highly advanced method known as Magnatotellurics (MT).

According to Dr. Fonseka, the team will vover a vast area consisting of eight hot springs, surveying each one on long traverses upto a depth of 10 kilometers at selected locations. They are presently at work on the 27-kilometer long Mahapalessa traverse, which is the longest of them all.

Chief designer of the MIT method Graham Dawes is among the team of experts currently involved in training Sri Lankan geologists, accompanied by distinguished NERC UK geophysicist Collin Kay. As for as expertise in the field of geophysical research goes, this team is well equipped to handle any challenges.

Finances

Dr. Hobbs currently serves as the Chief Scientist of Petroleum Geo-Services (PGS) UK. and is the primary architect behind MTEM (Multi-Transient Electromagnetic Methods), a technique now used globally in the exploration of petroleum hydrocarbons.

For a man of many global commitments, he has volunteered an extraordinary amount of time and personal finances towards this project which is very likely to benefit Sri Lanka’s growth and development in the long run.

The project’s coordinator and initiator dr. Fonseka was full of praise for his collective. As a Sri Lankan, I am overwhelmed by his commitment and interest in a project such as this one. We are very fortunate, since this has the potential to develop into a very fruitful effort for our country”.

Venture

Fonseka himself is an expert in exploration geophysics, and describes this project as his “Life’s ambition”. He had planned out his project for months in Canada following decades of related research, and finally executed it with the help of these local and foreign scientists.

“This is my tribute and gift to Sri Lanka”. said Fonseka, when asked his ambition in piecing this venture together.

“It’s been long since I moved to Canada, but I never gave up on my dream of seeing this project through. I have known and worked with Bruce since the 90s” he said, “and I flew out to Scotland last year to meet him regarding this project. With some planning and commitment from several parties and a generous equipment loan from the Natural Environmental Research Council (NERC) UK, we were able to put this project together”.

Fonseka praised the contributions put forth by local specialists in the venture as well. Among the team are Dr. N. P. Wijeyananda and Nalin De Silva of the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau (GSMB) of Sri Lanka, the local body responsible for facilitating a large chunk of the fieldwork. They are also aided by the Institute of Fundamental Studies (IFS) of Sri Lanka for a smaller portion of the traverses, which is represented by Dr. Deepal Subasinghe and Prof. C. B. Dissanayake.

De Silva heads the Southern Province Geophysical Program while Dr. Subasinghe leads the Geothermal Mapping Programme, both extensively involved in the present field work, according to Fonseka.

The two programs are responsible for facilitating much of the research done in this area in Sri Lanka thus far, and their representatives will accompany the British team in various phases of the work over the next few months.

The team is also accompanied by groundwater specialist Asoka Perera and K. M. Prematillake of the National Water Supply and Drainage Board.

The hot springs of Sri Lanka are a well known topic in the field of exploration geophysics. It has not however, been researched or analysed in this level of detail before, say these experts.

According to Dr. Fonseka, the potential for harnessing geothermal energy is likely to exist in Sri Lanka and is an exciting prospect considering its nature of being a consistent source of clean, environmentally friendly energy that may well offset some of the need for hydroelectric power generation on the island.

He stated that many regions of the world utilize geothermal heat as a from of energy geothermal heat as a form of energy, often converted to electricity.

“It is just as likely that Sri Lanka will be able to use it, particularly in the highly rural areas which overlay the active regions being surveyed by us. All this depends on how favourable the results prove to be” he said.

The team will work for around three months, committing to a steady stream of field work with no holidays taken in between.

And from there, the equipment will be shipped out elsewhere for a similar project overseas.