Additional 150 MW to national grid:

Upper Kotmale to be commissioned in March

by Ananda KANNANGARA

The Power and Energy Ministry on Thursday announced that Sri Lanka's new hydro power electricity project at Upper Kotmale will add 150 megawatts of power to the national grid. The Japan- Sri Lanka combined project will be commissioned on March 27 by President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The ceremonial release of water to the newly constructed tunnel of the Upper Kotmale electricity project took place last Tuesday.

Power and Energy Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka told the Sunday Observer that with the commissioning of the new project, the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) is expected to increase the country's total hydro electricity generation from 1,207.45 megawatts to 1,357.45 megawatts.

"The increase in the electricity capacity will help the CEB to reduce the electricity levy and also to provide an uninterrupted power supply to 4.3 million electricity consumers," he said.

The CEB also said the water for the new power project is supplied from the Kotmale Oya through a 13 km long tunnel with a 5.9 metre diameter to Niyamgamdora.

It is said that 10 centimetres and three cubic metres of water is carried per second through the tunnel. The Japan -Sri Lanka joint project will be constructed at a cost of Rs. 8,548 million and on a Japanese Yen 37,817 million concessionary loan.

Minister Ranawaka said that 495 families who were affected due to the construction work of the project will be provided with new houses. An additional Rs. 77 million has been allocated to develop transport services and other needs of the villagers, including farmer families in the Upper Kotmale area.