Quick look Upper Kotmale Hydro power Project
- 1968 Preparation of master plan in Mahaweli Basin further studies 1985 - 1987.
The Upper Kotmale Hydropower Project (UKHP) was conceived with the preparation of a master plan for hydroelectric development in the Mahaweli Basin in 1968. The concepts in the master plan were further studied in 1985-1987 when the Government of Japan funded a feasibility study to examine Hydropower options in the Upper reaches of Kotmale Oya (Stream).
- Feasibility Study :- Displacement of families & Tea Land
Five sites and eight alternative development schemes were examined in the feasibility study and the report concluded that the development of two sites were technically and economically feasible. The two sites were a reservoir type development at Caledonia and a run of river project at Talawakelle. The project at Caledonia involved the displacement of 2700 families and inundation of large area of tea land.
The Government of Japan then provided further funding for the Engineering Service Study, which included the review of the feasibility study, selection of the optimal development plan, the development of the detailed design and preparation of Tender Documents and an Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR).
The EIAR was issued in September 1994. The Final Design Report was completed in March 1995. The Environmental Impact Assessment identified key issues associated with the UKHP as, impacts on water fall aesthetics due to stream flow reductions, social impacts due to resettlement of affected people, possible effects on ground water due to tunelling, impacts due to de-watering of streams on down stream water uses and impacts on bio-diversity.
Further detailed studies on alternatives were completed in 1996 and the Secretary of the Ministry of Forestry and Environment granted approval for the project under the National Environment Act in July 1998 subject to strict adoption of proposed mitigatory measures to minimise possible environmental impacts, which included the development of a watershed management plan, maintenance of daytime flows over the waterfalls, monitoring of groundwater levels, an assessment of biodiversity, management of tunnel waste and a resettlement program. This decision was challenged in the Court of Appeal in October 1998. The Secretary of the Ministry of Forestry and Environment gave final order in March 2000, subsequent to the settlement of the appeal.
- Fund Source
The Government of Sri Lanka secured financial support in March 2002 from the Government of Japan to implement the project, signing of Loan Agreement SL-P74 in March 28, 2002.
- Production Capacity :- 150MW
The UKHP is a run of river hydropower project with an installed capacity of 150MW (consisting of two 75MW units) and It will produce 409GWh per year.
It has the following components:
A dam located close to the town of Talawakelle with a height of 35.5m and a crest length of 180m.
It will have a gross storage of 2.5 MCM with an effective capacity of 0.8 MCM with a surface area of 0.25km2 (60 acres).
Full supply level for the reservoir will be 1,194 metres above mean sea level (msl),
The minimum operating level will be 1190m msl and the normal tail water level 703m msl.
A headrace tunnel 4.5m/5+.2m in diameter lined and unlined and 12.89km in length, running north from the dam towards the Pundal Oya Falls before turning to the northwest towards the existing Kotmale dam and reservoir. (The maximum gross head between the reservoir and the powerhouse will be 491m).
An upstream surge tank 12m in diameter and 98m high with a restricted opening, located on the crest of the power house.
The penstock formed by an underground incline shaft starting with a diameter of 4.5m and reducing to 1.45m. It will be 793m in length, consisting of one lane of 745m and two lanes of 48m.
An underground powerhouse located at Niyamgamdora, (2km upstream of the confluence of Puna Oya and Kotmale Oya) with dimensions of 66.3m L x 18.8m W x 36.5m H to house two units of 77,000kW turbines, two vertical axis three phase 88,000kVA generators, two 3-phase, transformers and a 220kV Gas Insulator Switchgear (GIS) substation.
An outdoor switchyard, 36.5m wide and 130m long, located at Niyamgamdora, to connect the Power House to a 220kV double circuit transmission line.
220kV double circuit transmission line of 18km length to transmit power generated to existing Kotmale Substation and the associated switch yard extensions.
Location of Project
The UKHP is located in the Southern Highlands of Sri Lanka and is part of the Nuwara Eliya administrative district. The project area covers some 540km of the upstream catchment of the Kotmale Oya, a tributary of the Mahaweli Ganga. The infrastructure for the project is confined to a much smaller area and is contained in a triangle with the A5 Kandy - Nuwara Eliya Road forming the eastern side, the A7 Hatton-Nuwara Eliya road the southern side and a line running north-south from the existing Kotmale power station to the Devon Oya completing the western side.
The topography of the project area is mountainous with a striking landscape of deep river valleys running beneath high cliffs and escarpments. The establishment of tea plantations began in the 1850s and today the plantations still cover almost the entire district. The higher slopes and the tops of the hills remain forested with most of the forested areas designated as reserves.
The project area is predominantly rural in character with the majority of the population living in small rural communities or on tea plantations. The dam site is located on the edge of the town of Talawakelle which has a population of around 3750. The only other town of any size is Pundal Oya which has a population of 2000.
Benefits from Project
- Environmental And Social Benefits
The development of the Upper Kotmale Hydro Power Project UKHP will chnage the socio-economic situation in this area. The UKHP will provide the local areas with a number of environmental and social benefits both during the construction phase and operation phase. While the local social benefits will be largely confined to the area around Talawakelle town, the wider benefits of watershed management will extend to the whole of the upeer basin.
- Benefits during the Construction Phase
The presence of the project will also have positive impacts on the local communities, providing opportunities for improved social and economic development. It will stimulate the local business growth with opportunities related by the presence of construction camps and increased local disposable incomes. The following employment opportunities will be provided by the project :
(I) Skilled construction labour;
(II) Unskilled labour;
(III) Domestic staff, canteen staff and other camp supprt staff.
- Benefits during Operation Phase
The project will provide the opportunity to make significant improvements to the social and economic environment of the local communities.The business community also expects some benefits due to local tourism from the reservoir landscape, attracting people to use restaurants and other facilities, in the town.
Some of the construction camp facilities will be transferred to community use. These may include clinics, restaurants, shops etc.
The project will furnish infrastructure development including roads, electricity, telecommunications, water supply, clinics, and garbage disposal facilities etc. These improvements will certainly enhance continuing development of the area.
The Upper Kotmale Hydropower Project (UKHP) will give the environment improvement effects in global aspects as well as that in local aspects.
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