Broadlands Power project to be commissioned in mid 2013

Colombo: The Broadlands Power Generation Project, the newest member of the Laxapana hydro power complex will be commissioned in mid 2013 contributing 35 mw to the country’s national power grid.

The Ceylon Electricity Board is making arrangement for the initial programme of the Broadlands Hydro-Power Project.

The proposed hydro-power scheme with a capacity of 35 mw is capable of providing 126 million electricity units to the National electricity grid.

The new scheme based on the Kelani river will connect the Central and Sabaragamuwa Provinces.

The dam which is the main component of the project will be built in an area half a kilometre ahead the place where the Maskeli Oya and Kehelgamuwa Oya merge, forming the Kelani river.

In addition to the water provided by Maskeli Oya and Polpitiya power station, the water flow in the Kehelgamu Oya will be diverted to the main broadlands reservoir. The speed of the flow at this point will be 20 cubic meters per second.

The broadlands main dam and the reservoir planned across Maskeli Oya is 24 metres in height and 114 metres in length.

The internal power station with a 35 mw capacity established close to the Kithulgala town and the main water tunnel from broadlands major reservoir to the Kithulgala power station are among other significant components.

A high tension cable network of 132 kv will link the two new switch yards constructed close to the broadlands power project and Polpitiya.

According to CEB sources the power generation project has been planned causing minimum environmental damage as recommended in a broad scale environmental impact assessment conducted recently.

Families which will be displaced as a result of the project, will be provided land and houses. Suitable lands have been already identified for housing.

Power and Energy Minister W.D.J. Seneviratne has held a few rounds of talks with ministry officials. The possibilities of drawing foreign patronage for the project is also being explored by the Ministry.