Victoria water to be re-used for power [October 29 2010]

Shirajiv Sirimane

Plans are under way to re tap the Victoria reservoir power generated water and regenerate electricity.

The Mahaweli Authority is now studying this proposal and the plan is to generate around 200 mega watts from this new power project.

The Director General, Mahaweli authority, D. M. C. Dissanayake said that this would be the first time that water once used to generate electricity is being re used again.

The Victoria Dam is the largest hydroelectric dam in Sri Lanka. Power is generated by three 70 MW francis turbines, totalling the installed capacity to 210 MW, thus playing a significant role on the national grid. At a length of 520 m (1,706 ft), and a height of 122 m (400 ft), it is also the tallest dam in the country, while possessing the largest power station as well. The dam is located across the Mahaweli River immediately upstream of the Victoria Falls rapids.